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By  FRANK   M.  CHAPMAN, 

Curator  of   Birds  in   the   American    Museum   of 
Natural  History. 


HANDBOOK  OF  BIRDS  OF  EASTERN  NORTH  AMERICA. 

With  Keys  to  the  Species,  Descriptions  of  their 
Plumages,  Nests,  etc.,  and  their  Distribution  and 
Migrations.     With  over  200  Illustrations.     i2mo. 
Library  Edition,  $3.00. 
Pocket  Edition,  flexible  covers,  $3.50. 

BIRD-LIFE.     A  Guide  (0  the  Study  of  Our  Common  Birds. 

Popular  Edition  in  colors,  $2.00  net. 

BIRD    STUDIES    WITH    A    CAMERA.      Witli  Introductory 
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Illustrated  with  over  100  Photographs  from  Nature 
by  the  Author.     i2mo.     Cloth,  $1.75. 

THE  WARBLERS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

With  Contributions  from  other  Ornithologists  and 
24  full-page  Colored  Plates  illustrating  every 
Species,  from  Drawings  by  L.  A.  Fuertes  and  B. 
Horsfall,  and  Plalf-tones  of  Nests  and  Eggs.  8vo. 
Cloth,  I3.00  net. 

CAMPS  AND  CRUISES  OF  AN  ORNITHOLOGIST. 

Illustrated  by  250  Photographs  from  Nature  by 
the  Author.     8vo.     Cloth,  $3.00  net. 


D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  NEW  YORK. 


BOB-WHITE. 


HANDBOOK  OF  BIRDS 


OF  EASTERN  NORTH  AMERICA 


WITH   KEYS   TO   THE   SPECIES 

AND   DESCRIPTIONS   OF   THEIR   PLUMAGES,   NESTS,   AND   EGGS 

THEIR    DISTRIBUTION    AND    MIGRATIONS 

AND   A    BRIEF   ACCOUNT    OF   THEIR    HAUNTS   AND    HABITS 

WITH    INTRODUCTORY    CHAPTERS   ON    THE 

STUDY   OF    ORNITHOLOGY,    HOW   TO    IDENTIFY    BIRDS 

AND    HOW   TO    COLLECT   AND    PRESERVE    BIRDS 

THEIR   NESTS,    AND   EGGS 


BY 

FRANK   M.   CHAPMAN 

ASSISTANT    CURATOR    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    MAMMALOGY    AND    ORNITHOLOGY 

IN    THE    AMERICAN    MUSEUM    OF    NATURAL    HISTORY,    NEW    YORK    CITY  " 

MEMBER    OF   THE    AMERICAN    ORNITHOLOGISTS'    UNION,    ETC. 


WITH  FULL-PAGE  PLATES  IN    COLORS  AND  BLACK  AND    WHITE 

AND    UPWARD   OF  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  CUTS 

IN   THE    TEXT 


NEW   YORK   AND    LONDON 

D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY 

1910 


Copyright,  1895, 
B1^  D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY. 

341058 

BOSTON    COLLEGE    LIBRARI^ 
CHESTNUT  HILL,  MASS. 


TO  MY  MOTHER 

WHO    HAS    EVER    ENCOURAGED    HER    SON    IN    HIS 

NATURAL   HISTORY   STUDIES 

THIS  BOOK  IS  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED 


PKEFACE. 


If  this  book  had  been  written  in  the  last  century  it  might  have 
been  entitled  "  Ornithology  made  Simple,  or  How  to  Identify  Birds 
with  Ease,  Certainty,  and  Dispatch."  It  may  be  unworthy  so  com- 
prehensive a  title,  nevertheless  I  have  made  an  honest  endeavor  to 
write  a  book  on  birds  so  free  from  technicalities  that  it  would  be  in- 
telligible without  reference  to  a  glossary,  and  I  have  tried  to  do  this 
in  a  volume  which  could  be  taken  afield  in  the  pocket. 

I  have  not  addressed  an  imaginary  audience,  nor  have  I  given  my 
prospective  readers  what,  theoretically,  I  thought  they  ought  to  have, 
but  what  personal  experience  with  students  of  birds  has  led  me  to 
believe  would  meet  their  wants. 

The  preparation  of  this  work  has  firmly  convinced  me  that  the 
poet  would  have  been  nearer  the  truth  had  he  written  "  One  touch  of 
nature  makes  the  whole  world  kind."  In  the  succeeding  pages  I  have 
attempted  to  express  my  appreciation  of  the  assistance  which  natural- 
ist friends  and  associates  have  generously  given  me,  but  here  I  desire 
to  especially  thank  Miss  Florence  A.  Merriam,  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  and 
Mr.  Ernest  E.  Thompson  for  much  valuable  criticism  and  advice. 

Frank  M.  Chapman, 

American  Museum  op  Natural  History, 
New  York  City,  January,  1895. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Introduction    .  " 1 

Chapter  I. — The  Study  of  Ornithology 1 

Systematic  Ornithology 2 

Philosophic  Ornithology 3 

Economic  Ornithology  .        .......      6 

Sentiment  of  Ornithology .8 

Chapter  II. — The  Study  of  Birds  Out-of-Doors  .        .        .10 

How  to  Identify  Birds    .        .  • 10 

How  to  Find  Birds 11 

When  to  Find  Birds .        .12 

Tables  of  Migration 15 

The  Nesting  Season 19 

Note-books  and  Journals .20 

Chapter  III. — Collecting  Birds,  their  Nests,  and  Eggs     .  23 

Collecting  Birds 23 

Making  Birdskins 24 

Sexing  Birds 27 

Cataloguing  and  Labeling 28 

Care  of  a  Collection 29 

Collecting  and  Preserving  Nests  and  Eggs   .        .        .        .  29 

Plan  of  the  Work  .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .32 

Nomenclature  adopted 32 

Definition  of  Terms 32 

The  Key  to  Families 32 

The  Keys  to  Species .  34 

Measurements 37 

Range 37 

Biographies 38 

Illustrations 39 

Color  Chart 39 

List  of  Abbreviations 40 

vii 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


THE  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA  BAST  OF  THE  NINE- 
TIETH MERIDIAN 41 


Key  to  Orders  and  Families 


I.  Order  Pygopodes  :  Diving  Birds 

1.  Family  PodicipidaB :  Grebes 

2.  Family  UrinatoridaB :  Loons 

3.  Family  Alcidae :  Auks,  Murres,  and  Puffins 

II.  Order  Longipennes  :  Long-winged  Swimmers 

4.  Family  Stercorariidse  :  Skuas  and  Jaegers 

5.  Family  Laridae  :  Gulls  and  Terns 

6.  Rynchopidas;  Skimmers 


III. 


Order  Tubinares  :  Tube-nosed  Swimmers 

7.  Family  Diomedeidae :  Albatrosses 

8.  Procellariidae :  Petrels,  Fulmars,  and  Shearwaters 


IV.  Order  Steganopodes  :  Totipalmate  Swimmers 
9.  Family  Phaethontidee :  Tropic  Birds . 

10.  Family  Sulidag :  Gannets    . 

11.  Family  Anhingidae :  Darters 
13.  Family  Phalacrocoracidae :  Cormorants 

13.  Family  Pelecanidae :  Pelicans    . 

14.  Family  Fregatidae  :  Man-o'-War  Birds 

V.  Order  Anseres  :    Lamellirostral  Swimmers 

15.  Family  Anatidae:  Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans 

VI.  Order  Odontogloss^  :  Lamellirostral  Grallatores 

16.  Family  Phoenicopteridae :  Flamingoes 

VII.  Order  Herodiones  :  Herons,  Storks,  Ibises,  etc.  . 

17.  Family  Plataleidae :  Spoonbills. 

18.  Family  Ibididas :  Ibises 

19.  Family  Ciconiidae :  Storks  and  Wood  Ibises 

20.  Family  Ardeidae:  Herons,  Egrets,  and  Bitterns 

VIII.  Order  Paludicol^  :  Cranes,  Rails,  etc. 

21.  Family  Gruidae :  Cranes     .... 

22.  Family  Aramidae :  Courlans 

23.  Family  Rallidae :  Rails,  Gallimiles,  and  Coots 

IX.  Order  Limicol^  :  Shore  Birds 

24.  Family  Phalaropodida? :  Phalaropes  . 

25.  Family  Recurvirostridas :  Stilts  and  Avocets 

26.  Family  Scolopacidas :  Snipes,  Sandpipers,  etc. 


41 

56 
56 

58 
60 

65 
65 
67 

85 

86 
86 
86 

91 
91 
92 
93 
94 
95 
97 

97 

97 

125 
125 

125 
125 
126 
127 

128 

137 
137 
138 
139 

147 
147 
149 
150 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


27.  Family  Charadriidae :  Plovers    . 

28.  Family  Aphrizidae :  Turnstones,  etc. . 

29.  Family  HaematopodidaB :  Oyster-catchers 

X.  Order  Galling  :  Gallinaceous  Birds    . 

30.  Family  TetraonidaB :  Grouse,  Bob-whites,  etc. 

31.  Family  Phasianidae  :  Pheasants,  etc. . 

XI.  Order  Columb^  :  Pigeons  and  Doves    . 

32.  Family  Columbidae :  Pigeons  and  Doves 

XII.  Order  Raptores:  Birds  of  Prey  . 

33.  Family  Cathartidae :  American  Vultures 

34.  Family  Falconidae :  Falcons,  Hawks,  Eagles,  etc. 

35.  Family  Strigidae  :  Barn  Owls     .... 

36.  Family  Bubonidas :  Horned  Owls,  Hoot  Owls  . 

XIII.  Order  Psittaci  :  Parrots,  Macaws,  Paroquets,  etc 

37.  Family  Psittacidae :  Parrots  and  Paroquets 

XIV.  Order  Coccyges  :  Cuckoos,  Kingfishers,  etc. 

38.  Family  Cuculidae :  Cuckoos        .... 

39.  Family  Alcedinida? :  Kingfishers       .        . 

XV.  Order  Pici  :  Woodpeckers,  Wrynecks,  etc    . 

40.  Family  Picidae :  Woodpeckers    .... 

XVI.  Order    Macrochires  :     Goatsuckers,    Hummingbirds, 
Swifts,  etc.  . 

41.  Family   Caprimulgidae :     Nighthawks,   Whip-poor- 
wills,  etc 

42.  Family  Micropodidae :  Swifts     . 

43.  Family  Trochilidae  :  Hummingbirds 

XVII.  Order  Passeres  :  Perching  Birds  . 

44.  Family  Tyrannidse :  Flycatchers 

45.  Family  Alaudidae :  Larks  . 

46.  Family  Corvidae :  Crows  and  Jays 

47.  Family  Sturnidae  :  Starlings 

48.  Family  Icteridae :  Blackbirds,  Orioles,  etc. 

49.  Family  Fringillidae :  Finches,  Sparrows,  etc. 

50.  Family  Tanagridae :  Tanagers    . 

51.  Family  Hirundinidae :  Swallows 

52.  Family  Ampelidae :  Waxwings  . 

53.  Family  Laniidae :  Shrikes  . 

54.  Family  Vireonidae :  Vireos  . 

55.  Family  Mniotiltidae :  Wood  Warblers 


171 
176 

177 

178 
178 

185 

187 
187 

191 
191 
193 
213 
213 

222 
222 

224 
224 
226 

227 
227 

226 

236 
239 
240 

242 
242 
252 
253 
259 
260 
271 
316 
318 
323 
325 
327 
333 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

56.  Family  Motacillidae  :  Wagtails  and  Pipits        .        .  375 

57.  Family  Troglodytidge  :  Thrashers,  Wrens,  etc. .        .  376 

58.  Family  Certhiidae :  Creepers 385 

59.  Family  Paridae  :  Nuthatches  and  Titmice.        .        .  386 

60.  Family  Sylviidae :  Kinglets  and  Gnateatchers  .        .  391 

61.  Family  Turdidas :  Thrushes,  Bluebirds,  etc.      .        .  394 

Appendix  :  A  Field  Key  to  our  Commoner  Eastern  Land  Birds    .  404 

List  of  Principal  Works  referred  to 411 

Index         . 415 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FULL-PAGE  PLATES. 

TO  FACE  PAGE 

Bob-white Frontispiece. 

Color  Chart .        .        .39 

Pied-billed  Grebe  and  Young 57 

Heads  of  Ducks 97 

Little  Blue  Herons 135 

Clapper  Rail 140 

Woodcock  and  Young 153 

Spotted  Sandpiper  and  Young .169 

Ruffed  Grouse  and  Young 181 

Sparrow  Hawk  and  Young   .        .        .        ...        .        .        .211 

Hairy  Woodpecker;  Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker      .        .        .  329 

Whip-poor-will 237 

Least  Flycatcher  ;  Phcebe 245 

Bobolink 262 

Meadowlark 265 

White-throated  Sparrow;  White-crowned  Sparrow       .        .  300 

Song  Sparrow  ;  Swamp  Sparrow 306 

Yellow-throated  Vireo;  Warbling  Vireo         .        .        .        .  330 

Louisiana  Water-Thrush 368 

Wood  Thrush;  Wilson's  Thrush 395 

FIGURES  IN  THE  TEXT. 

FIGURE  PAGE 

1.  A  completed  birdskin 28 

2.  Topography  of  a  bird        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  33 

3.  (a)  Spotted,  (b)  streaked,  (c)  barred,  (d)  margined  feathers      .  34 

4.  Rule  showing  inches  and  tenths 37 

5.  Feet  of  (a)  Pied-billed  Grebe,  (&)  Loon,  (c)  Puffin    .        .        .  41 

6.  (a)  Bill  of  Parasitic  Jaeger ;  (b)  bill  and  foot  of  Laughing  Gull  41 

7.  Bill  of  Common  Tern 42 

8.  Bill  of  Skimmer 42 

xi 


xii  LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

FIGURE  PAGE 

9.  {a)  Bill  and  foot  of  Black- footed  Albatross ;  (&)  bill  and  foot 

of  Fulmar 42 

10.  Foot  of  Cormorant 43 

11.  Bill  of  Yellow-billed  Tropic  Bird     .        .        .        .        .        .43 

12.  Bill  of  Gannet 43 

13.  Bill  of  Anhinga 43 

14.  Bill  of  Cormorant .  43 

15.  Bill  of  Man-o'-War  Bird 43 

16.  Bill  of  Merganser 44 

17.  {a)  Bill  and  foot  of  Mallard  ;  (b)  foot  of  Canvasback        .        .  44 

18.  Bill  of  Flamingo 45 

19.  Bill  and  toe-nail  of  Little  Green  Heron 45 

20.  Bill  of  White  Ibis 45 

21.  Bill  of  Roseate  Spoonbill 45 

22.  {a)  Bill  and  foot  of  Clapper  Rail :  bills  of  {b)  Yellow  Rail, 

(c)  Sora,  {d)  Florida  Gallinule  ;  (e)  bill  and  foot  of  Coot      .  46 

23.  Bill  of  Sandhill  Crane 46 

24.  Bill  of  Limpkin 46 

25.  Bills  of  (a)  Dowitcher,   (6)   Knot,  (c)   Black-bellied   Plover, 

{d)  Semipalmated  Plover 47 

26.  Feet  of  (a)  Red  Phalarope,  (6)  Knot,  (c)  Dowitcher,  {d)  Black- 

bellied  Plover,  (e)  Semipalmated  Plover       .        .        .        .47 

27.  Bill  of  Rufeed  Grouse 48 

28.  Bill  of  Wild  Pigeon 48 

29.  Feet  of  {a)  Barred  Owl,  (&)  Red-shouldered  Hawk  . '       .        .48 

30.  Head  of  Barn  Owl 48 

31.  Head  of  Barred  Owl 48 

32.  Head  of  Turkey  Vulture 49 

33.  Head  of  Red-shouldered  Hawk 49 

34.  Bill  and  foot  of  Carolina  Paroquet 49 

35.  Bill  and  foot  of  Belted  Kingfisher    .        .        .        .        .      '  .     49 

36.  Bill  and  foot  of  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo 49 

37.  (a)  Bill  and  foot  of  Hairy  Woodpecker,  (6)  foot  of   Arctic 

Three-toed  Woodpecker 50 

38.  Bill  and  foot  of  Nighthawk       .        .        .        ...        .        .50 

39.  Bill  and  tail-feather  of  Chimney  Swift 50 

40.  Bill  of  Hummingbird        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .50 

41.  Foot  of  Robin 51 

42.  Bill  and  wing  of  Phoebe 51 

43.  Bill  and  hind-toe  of  Horned  Lark 51 

44.  {a)  Bill  and  wang  of  Blue  Jay,  (5)  bill  of  Crow         .        .        .     51 

45.  Bill  and  wing  of  Starling .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .52 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS.  xiii 

FIGURE  PAGE 

46.  (a)  Bill  and  wing  of  Baltimore  Oriole ;  bills  of  (6)  Meadow- 

lark,  (c)  Purple  Grackle .     52 

47.  Bills  of  (a)  Cardinal,  (b)  Pine  Grosbeak,  (c)  Purple  Finch, 

(d)  Red  Crossbill,  (e)  Seaside  Finch,  (/)  Goldfinch      .        .  53 

48.  Bill  of  Scarlet  Tanager      .        . 53 

49.  Bill  and  foot  of  Cliff  Swallow 53 

50.  Head  of  Cedar  Waxwing 53 

51.  Bill  of  Loggerhead  Shrike 53 

52.  Bill  of  Blue-headed  Vireo 53 

53.  (a)  Bill  of  Tennessee  Warbler ;  (b)  bill,  wing,  and  hind-toe  of 

Pine  Warbler;   bills  of  (c)  Redstart,  (d)  Water-Thrush; 

(e)  Chat 53 

54.  Bill  and  hind-toe  of  American  Pipit 54 

55.  {a)  Bill  of  Brown  Thrasher,  (b)  bill  and  wing  of  Catbird; 

bills  of  (c)  Carolina  Wren,  (d)  House  Wren .        .        .        ,54 

56.  Bill  and  tail  of  Brown  Creeper 54 

57.  (a)  Bill  of  White-breasted  Nuthatch,  (b)   bill   and  wing  of 

Chickadee 55 

58.  (a)  Bill  and  wing  of  Golden-crowned  Kinglet,  (6)  bill  of  Blue 

Gray  Gnatcatcher 55 

59.  (a)  Bill  of  Robin,  (b)  bill  and  wing  of  Bluebird        .        .        .55 

60.  First  primaries  of  (a)  American  Herring  Gull,  (b)  Ring-billed 

Gull,  (c)  Laughing   Gull,  (d)  Franklin's  Gull,  (e)   Bona- 
parte's Gull 69 

61.  First  primaries  of  (a)  Caspian  Tern,  (b)  Royal  Tern,  (c)  Com- 

mon Tern,  (d)  Arctic  Tern,  (e)  Royal  Tern  .        .        .        .78 
63.  Head  of  Least  Sandpiper 160 

63.  Head  of  Red-backed  Sandpiper 161 

64.  Wing  of  Solitary  Sandpiper 166 

65.  Head  of  Semipalmated  Plover .        .        .        .        .        .        .174 

66.  Head  of  Wilson's  Plover 176 

67.  Tail  of  Sharp-shinned  Hawk .198 

68.  Tail  of  Cooper's  Hawk 199 

69.  Primaries  of  Red-shouldered  Hawk 303 

70.  Primaries  of  Broad-winged  Hawk 304 

71.  Foot  of  Golden  Eagle 306 

73.  Foot  of  Bald  Eagle .307 

73.  Tail-feathers  of  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo 335 

74.  Tail-feathers  of  Black-billed  Cuckoo 336 

75.  Head  of  Crested  Flycatcher 345 

■  76.  Head  of  Prairie  Horned  Lark 353  - 

77.  Head  of  Cowbird 363 


xiv  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

FIGURE  p^Qj. 

78.  Head  of  Orchard  Oriole 267 

79.  Head  of  Purple  Finch 281 

80.  Head  of  Redpoll        . 285 

81.  Hind-toe  of  Lapland  Longspur 289 

83.  Tail-feathers  of  Vesper  Sparrow 290 

83.  Tail  of  Grasshopper  Sparrow 293 

84.  Head  of  Seaside  Sparrow 297 

85.  Head  of  Lark  Sparrow      .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  299 

86.  Head  of  Chipping  Sparrow 302 

87.  Head  of  Fox  Sparrow 309 

88.  Head  of  Dickcissel    .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .315 

89.  Barn,  Cliff,  Tree,  and  Bank  Swallows 318 

90.  Section  of  primary  of  Rough- winged  Swallow         .        .        .  323 

91.  Head  of  Red-eyed  Vireo 328 

93.  Wing  of  Warbling  Vireo  ,        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  329 

93.  Head  of  Black  and  White  Warbler  .        .        ,        .        .        .351 

94.  Head  of  Worm-eating  Warbler         .        .        .        .        .        .  351 

95.  Head  of  Blue-winged  Warbler 351 

96.  Head  of  Golden-winged  Warbler 351 

97.  Head  of  Parula  Warbler .351 

98.  Head  of  Myrtle  Warbler  .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .351 

99.  Head  of  Magnolia  Warbler 351 

100.  Head  of  Chestnut-sided  Warbler 351 

101.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler 354 

103.  Head  of  Black-poll  Warbler 366 

103.  Head  of  Prairie  Warbler  ........  366 

104.  Head  of  Oven-bird 366 

105.  Head  of  Kentucky  Warbler 366 

106.  Head  of  Maryland  Yellow-throat 366 

107.  Head  of  Wilson's  Warbler        .......  366 

108.  Head  of  Hooded  Warbler ,  .        .        .366 

109.  Head  of  Canadian  Warbler 366 

110.  Head  of  Yellow-breasted  Chat  .......  373 

111.  Head  of  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren 383 

113.  Head  of  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 384 

113.  Head  of  Red-breasted  Nuthatch 388 

114.  Head  of  Tufted  Titmouse 389 

115.  Head  of  Golden-crowned  Kinglet     ......  393 


A  HANDBOOK   OF  THE 
BIRDS   OF  EASTERN  NORTH  AMERICA. 


INTRODUCTION. 

CHAPTER  I. 
THE  STUDY  OF  ORNITHOLOGY. 

Birds,  because  of  their  beauty,  the  charm  of  their  songs,  and  the 
ease  with  which  they  may  be  observed,  are  doubtless  the  forms  of 
animal  life  which  first  attract  the  young  naturalist's  attention.  His 
interest  in  them  gives  evidence  of  an  inborn  love  of  Nature.  Too 
often  this  priceless  gift  is  lost  simply  through  lack  of  encouragement 
and  instruction.  Properly  developed  it  should  prove  a  never-failing 
source  of  pleasure  and  inspiration,  if  indeed  its  influence  does  not 
become  the  most  potent  factor  in  our  lives. 

Let  us  hope  that  the  day  is  not  distant  when  the  importance  of  in- 
troducing natural-history  studies  into  our  schools  will  be  generally 
recognized.  The  young  student  of  Nature  will  then  be  helped  over 
the  repelling  technicalities  which  render  so  difficult  the  first  steps  to 
a  knowledge  of  his  chosen  subject.  Without  a  guide  he  now  either 
loses  his  way  completely  or  travels  under  disadvantages  which  handi- 
cap him  for  the  whole  journey. 

The  uninstructed  beginner  in  ornithology  usually  expends  his  en- 
ergies in  forming  a  collection,  and  he  knows  no  better  way  of  pursuing 
his  study  of  birds  than  to  kill  and  stuff  them  !  Collecting  specimens 
is  a  step  in  the  scientific  study  of  birds,  but  ornithology  would  have 
small  claim  to  our  consideration  if  its  possibilities  ended  here.  Prop- 
erly considered,  it  includes  what  may  be  termed  the  science  of  orni- 
thology and  the  sentiment  of  ornithology.  As  a  science  it  treats  of 
birds  as  the  exponents  of  natural  laws  and  seeks  to  determine  their 
place  in  the  scale  of  life.  In  the  sentiment  of  ornithology  Nature  ap- 
peals to  us  through  the  most  interesting  and  beautiful  of  her  animate 
forms. 

2  i 


2  SYSTEMATIC   ORNITHOLOGY. 

The  Science  of  Ornithology. — The  science  of  ornithology  may  be 
divided  into  three  branches — systematic,  philosophic,  and  economic. 
The  systematist  aims  to  classify  birds  according  to  what  are  appar- 
ently their  true  relationships.  He  is  the  ornithological  storekeeper, 
and  having  taken  an  account  of  stock  it  is  his  duty  to  keep  the  books 
of  the  firm  in  order.  The  philosophic  ornithologist  accepts  as  a  fact 
the  statement  of  affairs  given  hiui  by  his  fellow-worker  the  systemat- 
ist, and  tries  to  explain  the  wherefore  and  why.  He  is  a  seeker  of 
causes.  The  economist  is  of  a  more  practical  turn  of  mind.  He  is 
impressed  by  the  incalculable  influence  which  birds  exert  over  our 
agricultural  interests,  and  the  necessity  for  learning  with  exactness 
whether  this  influence  is  for  good  or  evil.  But  let  us  describe  these 
three  departments  of  scientific  ornithology  more  fully. 

Systematic  Ornithology. — The  first  step  in  the  scientific  study  of 
any  group  of  animals  is  to  name  and  classify  them.  Orders,  families, 
genera,  species,  and  subspecies  are  to  be  described  and  arranged  in 
what  appears  to  be  the  most  natural  manner.  Thus  all  the  Perching 
Birds,  for  example,  are  placed  in  the  order  Passeres,  and  this  order  is 
divided  into  numerous  families — for  instance,  the  Thrushes  or  family 
Turdidce.  But  how  are  we  to  know  which  are  Perching  Birds  and 
which  of  the  Perching  Birds  are  Thrushes  *?  The  systematist  answers, 
by  studying  a  bird's  structure.  Generally  speaking,  orders  and  fami- 
lies are  based  on  skeletal,  muscular,  and  visceral  characters  which  may 
be  termed  internal  characters.  Genera  are  based  on  the  form  of  bill, 
feet,  wings,  and  tail,  or  on  external  characters,  while  species  and  sub- 
species are  based  mainly  on  color  and  size.  Thus  all  the  members  of  a 
family  or  order  agree  more  or  less  in  their  principal  internal  charac- 
ters :  those  of  a  genus  agree  in  external  characters,  and  the  individ- 
uals of  a  species  or  subspecies  resemble  one  another  in  color  and 
size. 

The  object  of  classification  is  to  aid  us  in  understanding  not  alone 
the  relationships  of  one  bird  to  another  bird,  or  of  one  family  or 
order  of  birds  to  another  family  or  order,  or  even  of  living  to  extinct 
birds,  but  also  to  assist  us  in  explaining  the  relationships  of  all  the 
classes  of  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms — mammals,  birds,  rep- 
tiles, fishes — and  thus  down  the  scale  to  the  lowest  forms  of  life. 

This  systematic  study  of  the  relationships  of  birds  has  taught  us 
that  they  have  been  evolved  from  reptilian  ancestors.  There  is  much 
evidence  in  support  of  this  fact,  but  the  most  conclusive  is  furnished 
by  the  discovery  in  the  lithographic  slate  of  Solenhofen,  Bavaria,  of 
several  specimens  of  a  remarkable  fossil,  a  reptilelike  bird,  which  has 
been  named  Archceopteryx  lithographica.  It  is  the  earliest  known 
direct  progenitor  of  the  great  class  Aves. 


PHILOSOPHIC   ORNITHOLOGY.  3 

The  importance  of  systematic  classification  is  also  shown  in  the  ne- 
cessity of  naming  objects  before  we  can  study  them  to  advantage.  As 
the  alphabet  is  the  foundation  of  a  written  language,  so  this  great 
series  of  scientific  names,  which  appears  so  formidable  to  the  student, 
is  the  groundwork  for  all  ornithological  research. 

Philosophic  Ornithology. — Having  learned  the  alphabet  of  orni- 
thology, we  may  pass  from  the  systematic  to  the  philosophic  study 
of  birds ;  from  the  study  of  dead  birds  to  that  of  living  ones.  A 
study  of  specimens  shows  their  relationships  through  structure,  but 
a  study  of  the  living  bird  in  its  haunts  may  tell  us  the  cause  of 
structure.  In  classifying  birds  we  have  taken  note  of  their  form  and 
coloration ;  our  object  now  is  to  determine  how  these  characters  were 
acquired. 

As  Prof.  E.  S.  Morse  has  said,  "There  is  no  group  of  animals 
which  exceeds  birds  in  varied  and  suggestive  material  for  the  evolu- 
tionist." Compare  a  Hummingbird  with  an  Ostrich,  a  Swallow  with 
a  Penguin,  and  the  enormous  variation  in  the  structure  and  habits  of 
birds  is  brought  very  forcibly  to  our  minds.  When  we  remember 
that  these  widely  divergent  types  descended  from  a  reptilian  ancestor, 
we  are  impressed  anew  with  the  truth  of  Prof.  Morse's  remark. 

A  brief  review  of  the  more  important  branches  of  philosophic 
ornithology  will  show  how  rich  a  field  is  open  to  the  student  of  birds. 
They  are :  (1)  The  origin  of  birds  and  their  place  in  Nature  ;  *  (2)  their 
distribution  in  time  and  space,  and  the  influences  which  determine 
their  present  ranges  ;  f  (3)  the  migration  of  birds,  its  origin,  object,  ex- 
tent, and  manner ;  %  (4)  the  nesting  of  birds,  including  a  study  of  the 
significance  of  sexual  differences  in  form,  color,  and  voice,  the  location 
and  construction  of  the  nest,  the  number  and  color  of  the  eggs,  together 
with  the.  habits  of  birds  during  the  entire  nesting  season  ;  (5)  the  effect 

*  See  Newton's  Dictionary  of  Birds  (London  :  Adam  and  Charles  Black,  1893) ,' 
articles,  "Anatomy  of  Birds  "  and  "  Fossil  Birds"  ;  Coues's  Key  to  N.  A.  Birds. 

t  Read  The  Geographical  Distribution  of  North  American  Mammals,  by  J.  A. 
Allen,  Bull.  Am.  Mas.  Nat.  Hist.,  iv,  1892,  pp.  199-244  ;  four  maps.  The  Geo- 
graphical Origin  and  Distribution  of  North  American  Birds,  considered  in  Rela- 
tion to  Faunal  Areas  of  North  America,  by  J.  A.  Allen,  The  Auk,  x,  1893,  pp. 
97-150  ;  two  maps.  The  Geographic  Distribution  of  Life  in  North  America  with 
Special  Reference  to  the  Mammalia,  by  C.  Hart  Merriam,  M.  D.,  Proc.  of  the 
Biological  Soc.  of  Washington,  vii,  1892,  pp.  1-64  ;  one  map.  Laws  of  Tempera- 
ture Control,  by  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam,  Nat.  Geog.  Mag.,  vi,  1894,  pp.  229-238  ; 
three  maps. 

X  On  this  subject  read  articles  by  the  following  authors :  J.  A.  Allen,  Scrib- 
ner's  Magazine,  xxii,  1881,  pp.  932-938  ;  Bull.  Nuttall  Orn.  Club,  v,  1880,  pp.  151- 
154  ;  Scott,  ibid.,  vi,  1881,  pp.  97-100  ;  Brewster,  Memoirs  Nuttall  Orn.  Club  (Cam- 
bridge, Mass.),  No.  1,  pp.  22  ;  Cooke  and  Merriam,  Bird  Migration  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  (Washinjjton.  1888)  :  Chapman.  Auk,  v.  1888,  pp.  37-39  ;  xi, 
1894,  pp.  12-17  ;  Loomis,  Auk,  ix.  1892,  pp.  28-39  ;  xi,  1894,  pp.  26-39,  94-117  ; 
Stone,  Birds  of  E.  Penn.  and  N.  J.,  Bird  Migration,  pp.  15-28. 


4.  GEOGRAPHICAL   RACES. 

of  climate  upon  the  color  and  size  of  birds;*  (6)  the  relation  of  a 
bird's  color  to  its  haunts  and  habits.f  Besides  these  general  subjects 
which  enter  into  our  study  of  the  life-history  of  every  bird,  we  have 
the  special  instances  of  intelligent  adaptation  to  changed  conditions 
of  life,  and,  most  interesting  of  all,  the  relation  between  structure  and 
habits,  or  the  part  played  by  a  bird's  habits  in  determining  the  form 
of  its  bill,  feet,  wings,  and  tail.  Thus  the  Crook-billed  Plover  of  New 
Zealand  turns  over  or  probes  under  stones  and  shells  in  search  of  food, 
not  because  its  crooked  bill  makes  an  excellent  lever  or  probe,  but  it 
has  acquired  a  crooked  bill  through  this  habit.  Again,  the  Gallinules  of 
certain  islands  in  southern  seas  are  flightless,  not  because  their  wings 
are  too  small  to  support  them,  but  because  after  having  flown  to  these 
islands  they  had  no  further  use  for  wings,  which  in  time,  through  dis- 
use, became  so  small  that  the  birds  have  lost  the  power  of  flight.  In 
other  words,  it  is  not  because  their  wings  are  small  that  they  do  not 
fly,  but  because  they  do  not  fly  their  wings  are  small. 

But  to  enlarge  upon  these  problems  which  confront  the  philo- 
sophic ornithologist  would  require  a  volume.  It  is  important,  how- 
ever, that  the  student  should  have  in  the  beginning  at  least  a  general 
idea  of  the  effect  of  climate  on  the  size  and  color  of  birds  and  the 
migration  of  birds.  The  first  is  well  illustrated  by  our  Bob-white  or 
Quail.  In  New  England,  at  the  northern  limit  of  its  range,  it  is  a  fine, 
large  bird  with  a  light-brown  back  and  a  white  breast  narrowly  barred 
with  black.  As  we  proceed  southward  it  becomes  smaller,  the  brown 
is  of  a  deeper  shade,  the  black  bars  of  greater  extent.  Finally,  when 
we  have  reached  the  humid  region  of  southern  Florida,  the  minimum 
in  size  is  attained,  the  back  is  dark,  rich  chestnut  barred  with  black, 
and  the  breast  is  almost  wholly  black.  No  one  who  compared  this 
small,  dark  Florida  Quail  with  the  large,  pale  Quail  of  New  England 
would  consider  them  the  same  species.  But  on  examining  a  series  of 
Quails  from  all  the  Atlantic  States  one  sees  how  gradually  this  change 
in  color  and  decrease  in  size  occurs,  and  that  nowhere  would  it  be 
possible  to  draw  a  line  separating  the  two  extremes.  They  are  species 
in  process  of  formation  still  connected  by  a  chain  of  natural  links. 

Ornithology  presents  many  similar  cases.  They  illustrate  two  laws 
in  the  evolution  of  animals — decrease  in  size  southward  and  greater 


*  Read  Part  III  of  Dr.  .T.  A.  Allen's  Mammals  and  Winter  Birds  of  East 
Florida,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  vol.  ii,  No.  3.     Cambridge,  1871. 

t  Consult  Poulton's  Colors  of  Animals  (D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  1890);  Bed- 
dard's  Animal  Coloration  (Macmillan  &  Co.)  ;  Keeler's  Evolution  of  the  Colors 
of  North  American  Land-birds  (Occasional  Papers  of  California  Academy  of 
Sciences,  iii,  1893) ;  also  reviews  of  last  two  works  in  The  Auk,  x,  1893,  pp.  189- 
199,  373-380. 


MIGRATION  OF  BIRDS.  5 

intensity  of  color  in  regions  of  greatest  rainfall.  They  are  thus  evi- 
dences of  an  evolution  so  recent  that  we  can  assign  its  cause. 

In  nomenclature  these  partly  formed  species  are  termed  subspecies 
or  races.  Under  the  trinomial  system  they  are  distinguished  by  a 
third  name :  thus  Colinus  vii^ginianus  floridanus  is  a  subspecies  or  race 
of  Colinus  virginianus.  But  if  through  any  change  in  the  earth's  sur^ 
face  the  region?  occupied  by  the  large,  light  Quail  and  the  small,  dark 
one  should  be  separated,  the  intermediates  would  disappear  and  in- 
stead of  a  race  or  subspecies  we  would  have  a  full  species — Colinus 
floridanus. 

The  Migration  of  Birds. — Certain  insects,  fishes,  and  mammals 
migrate,  but  no  animals  compare  with  birds  in  the  extent  of  their 
migrations.  Some  birds  nest  within  the  Arctic  Circle  and  winter  in 
the  southern  parts  of  the  southern  hemisphere,  performing  this  jour- 
ney of  thousands  of  miles  year  after  year  and  returning  to  their  sum- 
mer or  winter  haunts  with  marvelous  certainty  and  regularity. 

Not  only  is  the  migration  of  birds  an  interesting  subject  in  itself, 
but  the  almost  constant  changes  it  causes  in  the  bird-life  of  the  same 
region  gives  an  interest  to  the  study  of  ornithology  which  is  ever  re- 
newed with  the  changing  seasons.  Indeed,  to  the  lover  of  Nature 
birds  are  a  living  calendar.  "  What  was  that  sound  that  came  on  the 
softened  air?  It  was  the  warble  of  the  Bluebird  from  the  scraggy 
orchard  yonder.     When  this  is  heard,  then  has  spring  arrived." 

A  discussion  of  the  origin  of  bird  migration  will  be  found  in  the 
books  and  papers  on  this  subject  to  which  reference  has  been  given. 
Here  it  is  possible  only  to  outline  its  principal  features  as  they  exist 
to-day.  Generally  speaking,  birds  migrate  at  the" approach  of  winter, 
in  search  of  food.  The  reason  why  they  leave  a  land  of  plenty  in  the 
tropics  and  follow  the  footsteps  of  retreating  winter  to  nest  in  the 
comparatively  barren  north  is  as  yet  not  satisfactorily  explained. 

As  a  rule,  the, extent  of  a  bird's  migration  depends  upon  the  nature 
of  its  food.  Insect-eating  birds  are  forced  to  extend  their  migrations 
much  farther  than  the  seed-eaters,  many  of  which  are  permanent 
residents  at  their  place  of  birth.  The  land-birds  of  the  Western 
States  winter  in  Mexico.  A  few  cross  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepee 
into  Central  America,  but  practically  no  species  cross  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama.  Our  Eastern  birds  have  a  longer  and  more  perilous  journey 
to  perform.  They  leave  the  mainland  by  way  of  Florida,  and  some 
species  find  congenial  winter  haunts  in  the  West  Indies  or  Central 
America,  while  others  go  as  far  south  as  the  Argentine  Republic. 

Birds  of  strong  flight,  like  Swallows,  can  easily  escape  from  bird- 
killing  Hawks,  and  so  migrate  boldly  by  day.  But  the  shy,  retiring 
inhabitants  of  woods  and  thickets  await  the  coming  of  darkness,  and 


6  ECONOMIC  ORNITHOLOGY. 

then,  mounting  high  in  the  air,  pursue  their  journey  under  cover  of 
the  night.  Birds  direct  their  flight  by  coast  lines  and  river  valleys 
which  are  easily  distinguishable  in  clear  weather.  On  favorable  nights 
these  natural  highways  of  migration  are  thronged  by  a  continuous 
stream  of  aerial  voyagers  passing  from  dusk  until  dawn. 

Looking  through  a  telescope  at  the  moon,  one  may  see  numbers  of 
birds  cross  its  glowing  surface.  From  such  observations  it  is  com- 
puted that  migrating  birds  fly  at  a  height  of  from  one  to  three  miles. 

The  eyesight  of  birds  is  so  far  superior  to  ours  that  we  do  not 
realize  its  value  to  them  while  migrating.  The  height  at  which  they 
fly  gives  them  command  of  a  wide  range  of  country,  and  on  clear 
nights  they  can  undoubtedly  distinguish  its  prominent  features  with 
ease.  But  when  fogs  or  clouds  obscure  these  landmarks,  they  lose 
their  way.  It  is  then  that  lighthouses  prove  beacons  luring  them  to 
destruction.  The  Bartholdi  Statue,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson 
River,  is  directly  in  the  path  of  the  great  streams  of  migrants  which 
flow  up  and  down  this  natural  highway  of  migration,  and  for  this 
reason  is  particularly  destructive  to  birds  which  travel  at  night.  On 
one  occasion  after  a  storm  no  less  than  fourteen  hundred  birds  were 
picked  up  at  its  base,  having  been  killed  by  striking  the  statue  or 
pedestal  upon  which  it  rests. 

But  while  sight  is  of  the  first  importance  to  the  older  and  more 
experienced  birds  who  know  the  way,  young  birds,  who  are  making 
the  journey  for  the  first  time,  doubtless  rely  on  their  hearing  to  guide 
them.  Birds'  ears  are  exceedingly  acute.  They  readily  detect  sounds 
which  to  us  would  be  inaudible.  Almost  invariably  they  respond  to 
an  imitation  of  their  notes,  and,  when  under  way,  frequently  chirp  and 
call.  When  we  consider  their  power  of  hearing  and  their  abundance 
in  routes  of  migration,  it  seems  probable  that  at  no  time  during  the 
night  is  a  bird  beyond  the  hearing  of  his  fellow-travelers.  The  line 
of  flight  once  established,  therefore,  by  the  older  birds,  who  leave  flrst, 
it  becomes  a  comparatively  easy  matter  for  the  younger  birds  to  join 
the  throng. 

Economic  Ornithology. — This  branch  of  the  study  of  ornithology 
treats  of  the  relationships  of  bird  to  man  from  the  standpoint  of 
dollars  and  cents.  Civilized  man  is  Nature's  worst  enemy.  He  is  a 
disturbing  element  whose  presence  is  a  constant  menace  to  the  balance 
of  life.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  therefore,  that  we  should 
acquaint  ourselves  with  the  conditions  which  make  a  true  equilibrium 
and  endeavor  to  sustain  them  when  it  proves  to  our  advantage  to 
do  so. 

The  disastrous  results  which  have  followed  man's  introduction  of 
the  English  or  House  Sparrow  in  America,  the  mongoose  in  the  West 


ECONOMIC   ORNITHOLOGY.  7 

Indies,  and  the  rabbit  in  Australia,  clearly  show  that  our  attempts  to 
improve  upon  Nature  must  be  directed,  not  by  haphazard  methods, 
but  by  knowledge  gained  through  a  careful  study  of  Nature's  laws. 

Few  persons  realize  the  value  of  birds  to  man.  They  are  the 
natural  check  upon  the  increase  of  insect  life.  Consider  the  incal- 
culable number  of  insects  destroyed  by  the  birds  which  pass  the 
greater  part  of  each  day  hunting  through  our  lawns,  orchards,  fields, 
and  woods  for  the  pests  that  destroy  vegetation.  Of  almost  equal  im- 
portance are  the  birds  of  prey  whose  food  consists  largely  of  the  small 
rodents  which  are  among  the  farmer's  worst  enemies.  Indeed,  it  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  without  birds  the  earth  would  not  long  be 
habitable. 

As  yet  we  are  on  the  threshold  of  an  exact  knowledge  of  the  value 
of  birds  to  man ;  but  let  us  cite  one  easily  demonstrable  case  where 
ignorance  of  birds'  habits  resulted  in  direct  pecuniary  loss.  Quoting 
from  the  report  for  1886  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam,  Ornithologist  and 
Mammalogist  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture :  "  On 
the  23d  of  June,  1885,  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  passed  an  act 
known  as  the  '  scalp  act,'  ostensibly  '  for  the  benefit  of  agriculture,' 
which  provides  a  bounty  of  fifty  cents  each  on  hawks,  owls,  weasels, 
and  minks  killed  within  the  limits  of  the  State,  and  a  fee  of  twenty 
cents  to  the  notary  or  justice  taking  the  affidavit. 

"  By  virtue  of  this  act  about  |90,000  has  been  paid  in  bounties 
during  the  year  and  a  half  that  has  elapsed  since  the  law  went  into 
effect.  This  represents  the  destruction  of  at  least  128,571  of  the 
above-mentioned  animals,  most  of  which  were  hawks  and  owls. 

"  Granting  that  5,000  chickens  are  killed  annually  in  Pennsylvania 
oy  hawks  and  owls,  and  that  they  are  worth  twenty-five  cents  each  (a 
liberal  estimate  in  view  of  the  fact  that  a  large  proportion  of  them  are 
killed  when  very  young),  the  total  loss  would  be  1,250,  and  the  poultry 
killed  in  a  year  and  a  half  would  be  worth  $1,875.  Hence  it  appears 
that  during  the  past  eighteen  months  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  has 
Expended  |90,000  to  save  its  farmers  a  loss  of  $1,875.  But  this  esti- 
mate by  no  means  represents  the  actual  loss  to  the  farmer  and  the  tax- 
payer of  the  State.  It  is  within  bounds  to  say  that  in  the  course  of  a 
year  every  hawk  and  owl  destroys  at  least  a  thousand  mice  or  their 
equivalent  in  insects,  and  that  each  mouse  or  its  equivalent  so  de- 
stroyed would  cause  the  farmer  a  loss  of  two  cents  per  annum.  There- 
fore, omitting  all  reference  to  the  enormous  increase  in  the  numbers 
of  these  noxious  animals  when  Nature's  means  of  holding  them  in 
check  has  been  removed,  the  lowest  possible  estimate  of  the  value  to 
the  farmer  of  each  hawk,  owl,  and  weasel  would  be  $20  a  year,  or  $30 
in  a  year  and  a  half. 


8  SENTIMENT   OF   OfiNlTHOLOGY. 

"  Hence,  in  addition  to  the  $90,000  actually  expended  by  the  State 
in  destroying  128,571  of  its  benefactors,  it  has  incurred  a  loss  to  its 
agricultural  interests  of  at  least  $3,857,130,  or  a  total  loss  of  $3,947,130 
in  a  year  and  a  half,  which  is  at  the  rate  of  2,631,420  per  annum.  In 
other  words,  the  State  has  thrown  away  $2,105  for  every  dollar  saved ! 
And  even  this  does  not  represent  fairly  the  full  loss,  for  the  slaughter 
of  such  a  vast  number  of  predaceous  birds  and  mammals  is  almost 
certain  to  be  followed  by  a  correspondingly  enormous  increase  in  the 
numbers  of  mice  and  insects  formerly  held  in  check  by  them,  and  it 
will  take  many  years  to  restore  the  balance  thus  blindly  destroyed 
through  ignorance  of  the  economic  relations  of  our  common  birds  and 
mammals." 

To  their  credit  be  it  said,  the  legislators  of  Pennsylvania  were  not 
slow  to  recognize  the  error  which  a  lack  of  proper  information  had 
caused  them  to  make.  A  State  ornithologist  was  appointed,  and 
through  his  efforts  this  ruinous  and  absurd  law  was  repealed. 

In  1893  the  Division  of  Economic  Ornithology  and  Mammalogy  of 
the  Department  of  Agriculture  issued  a  report  upon  the  food  of  the 
Hawks  and  Owls  of  the  United  States  based  upon  the  examination  of 
the  contents  of  2,690  stomachs.  It  proves  conclusively  the  value 
of  most  of  these  misjudged  birds  to  the  agriculturist.  It  is  need- 
less to  draw  a  comparison  between  legislation  based  upon  information 
derived  from  such  reports  and  that  based  solely  on  ignorant  preju- 
dices. 

The  Sentiment  of  Ornithology. — We  may  accept  as  true  Prof. 
Morse's  estimate  of  the  value  of  birds  to  the  scientist ;  we  need  not 
question  their  importance  in  the  economics  of  Nature,  but  we  are  still 
far  from  recognizing  the  possibilities  of  their  influence  upon  our  lives. 
An  inherent  love  of  birds  is  an  undeniable  psychological  fact  which 
finds  its  most  frequent  expression  in  the  general  fondness  for  cage- 
birds.  If  we  can  learn  to  regard  the  birds  of  the  woods  and  fields 
with  all  the  affection  we  lavish  on  our  poor  captives  in  their  gilded 
homes,  what  an  inexhaustible  store  of  enjoyment  is  ours ! 

It  is  not  alone  the  beauty,  power  of  song,  or  intelligence  of  birds 
which  attract  us,  it  is  their  human  attributes.  Man  exhibits  hardly 
a  trait  which  he  will  not  find  reflected  in  the  life  of  a  bird.  Love, 
hate;  courage,  fear;  anger,  pleasure;  vanity,  modesty;  virtue,  vice; 
constancy,  fickleness  ;  generosity,  selfishness ;  wit,  curiosity,  memory, 
reason — we  may  find  them  all  exhibited  in  the  lives  of  birds.  Birds 
have  thus  become  symbolic  of  certain  human  characteristics,  and  the 
more  common  species  are  so  interwoven  in  our  art  and  literature  that 
by  name  at  least  they  are  known  to  all  of  us.  Shakespeare  makes 
over  six  hundred  references  to  birds  or  bird-life.     If  we  should  rob 


SENTIMENT   OF   ORNITHOLOGY.  9 

Wordsworth's  verses  of  their  birds,  how  sadly  mutilated  what  re- 
mained would  be  ! 

But  why  leave  a  knowledge  of  birds  to  poets  and  naturalists'?  Gro 
yourself  to  the  field  and  learn  that  birds  do  not  exist  solely  in  books, 
but  are  concrete,  sentient  beings,  whose  acquaintance  may  bring  you 
more  unalloyed  happiness  than  the  wealth  of  the  Indies,  John  Bur- 
roughs understands  this  when  he  writes  of  the  study  of  birds  :  "  There 
is  a  fascination  about  it  quite  overpowering.  It  fits  so  well  with  other 
things — with  fishing,  hunting,  farming,  walking,  camping  out — with 
all  that  takes  one  to  the  fields  and  woods.  One  may  go  a  blackberry- 
ing  and  make  some  rare  discovery ;  or  while  driving  his  cow  to  pas- 
ture, hear  a  new  song,  or  make  a  new  observation.  Secrets  lurk  on  all 
sides.  There  is  news  in  every  bush.  What  no  man  ever  saw  before 
may  the  next  moment  be  revealed  to  you.  What  a  new  interest  the 
woods  have!  How  you  long  to  explore  every  nook  and  corner  of 
them ! " 

Human  friends  may  pass  beyond  our  ken,  but  our  list  of  acquaint- 
ances in  the  bird  world  increases  to  the  end  and  shows  no  vacancies. 
The  marsh  the  Blackbirds  loved  may  become  the  site  of  a  factory,  but 
no  event  on  the  calendar  is  more  certain  than  that  in  due  time  and 
place  we  shall  hear  the  tinkling  chorus  of  the  epauleted  minstrels 
rising  and  falling  on  the  crisp  morning  air. 

"  .  .  .  .  Time  may  come  when  never  more 
The  wilderness  shall  hear  the  lion  roar  ; 
But,  long  as  cock  shall  crow  from  household  perch 
To  rouse  the  dawn,  soft  gales  shall  speed  thy  wing, 
And  thy  erratic  voice  he  faithful  to  the  spring  ! " 

The  woods  of  our  youth  may  disappear,  but  the  Thrushes  will 
always  sing  for  us,  and  their  voices,  endeared  by  cherished  associa- 
tions, arouse  echoes  of  a  hundred  songs  and  awaken  memories  before 
which  the  years  will  vanish. 


CHAPTER  II. 
THE  STUDY  OF  BIRDS  OUT-OF-DOORS. 

How  to  Identify  Birds. — Whether  your  object  be  to  study  birds  as 
a  scientist  or  simply  as  a  lover  of  Nature,  the  first  step  is  the  same — 
you  must  learn  to  know  them.  This  problem  of  identification  has 
been  given  up  in  despair  by  many  would-be  ornithologists.  We  can 
neither  pick,  press,  net,  nor  impale  birds ;  and  here  the  botanist  and 
the  entomologist  have  a  distinct  advantage.  Even  if  we  have  the 
desire  to  resort  to  a  gun  its  use  is  not  always  possible.  But  with 
patience  and  practice  the  identification  of  birds  is  a  comparatively 
easy  matter,  and  m  the  end  you  will  name  them  with  surprising  ease 
and  certainty.  There  is  generally  more  character  in  the  flight  of  a 
bird  than  there  is  in  the  gait  of  a  man.  Both  are  frequently  inde- 
scribable but  perfectly  diagnostic,  and  you  learn  to  recognize  bird 
friends  as  you  do  human  ones — by  experience. 

If  you  confine  your  studies  to  one  locality,  probably  not  more  than 
one  third  of  the  species  described  in  this  volume  will  come  within  the 
field  of  your  observation.  To  aid  you  in  learning  which  species  should 
be  included  in  this  third,  the  paragraphs  on  Range  are  followed  by 
a  statement  of  the  bird's  standing  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Sing  Sing, 
N.  Y.,  and  Cambridge,  Mass.,  while  the  water-birds  of  Long  Island  are 
treated  specially.  Take  the  list  of  birds  from  the  point  nearest  your 
home  as  an  index  of  those  you  may  expect  to  find.  This  may  be 
abridged  for  a  given  season  by  considering  the  times  of  the  year  at 
which  a  bird  is  present.* 

*  It  is  sometimes  possible  to  secure  a  list  of  birds  of  your  own  vicinity.  These 
"  local  lists  "  are  generally  published  in  scientific  journals,  but  one  may  fre- 
quently secure  a  copy  of  the  author's  edition.  On  this  subject  correspond  with 
S.  N.  Rhoads,  121  S.  Third  Street,  Philadelphia.  Among  the  local  lists  of  east. 
ern  birds  which  were  issued  as  separate  publications  and  are  now  for  sale  aie— 

1.  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  the  Virginias,  by  Wm.  C.  Rives,  M.  A..  M.  D. 
Proc.  Newport  [R.  I.]  Nat.  Hist.  Soc,  Document  VII,  1890,  8vo,  pp.  100,  one  map, 
305  species. 

2.  The  Birds  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  with  Introductory 

10 


HOW  TO   FIND   BIRDS.  H 

After  this  slight  prepiaration  you  may  take  to  the  field  with  a  much 
clearer  understanding  of  the  situation.  Two  quite  different  ways  of 
identifying  birds  are  open  to  you.  Either  you  may  shoot  them,  or 
study  them  through  a  field-  or  opera-glass.  A  "  bird  in  the  hand  "  is  a 
definite  object  whose  structure  and  color  can  be  studied  to  such  ad- 
vantage that  in  most  cases  you  will  afterward  recognize  it  at  sight. 
After  learning  the  names  of  its  parts,  its  identity  is  simply  a  question 
of  keys  and  descriptions. 

If  you  would  "  name  the  birds  without  a  gun,"  by  all  means  first 
visit  a  museum,  and,  with  text-book  in  hand,  study  those  species  which 
you  have  previously  found  are  to  be  looked  for  near  your  home.  This 
preliminary  introduction  will  serve  to  ripen  your  acquaintance  in  the 
field.  A  good  field-  or  opera-glass  is  absolutely  indispensable.  A 
strong  opera-glass  with  a  large  eye-piece  is  most  useful  in  the  woods, 
while  a  field-glass  is  more  serviceable  in  observing  water-birds.  Study 
your  bird  as  closely  as  circumstances  will  permit,  and  write  on  the  spot 
a  comparative  description  of  its  size,  the  shape  of  its  bill,  tail,  etc.,  and 
a  detailed  description  of  its  colors.  In  describing  form  take  a  Robin, 
Chipping  Sparrow,  or  any  bird  you  know,  which  best  serves  the  pur- 
pose, as  a  basis  for  comparison.  A  bird's  bill  is  generally  its  most 
diagnostic  external  character.  A  sketch  of  it  in  your  note-book  will 
frequently  give  you  a  good  clew  to  its  owner's  family.  It  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  this  description  should  be  written  in  the  field. 
Not  only  do  our  memories  sometimes  deceive  us,  but  we  really  see 
nothing  with  exactness  until  we  attempt  to  describe  it.  Haunts,  ac- 
tions, and  notes  should  also  be  carefully  recorded.  This  account  is 
your  "  bird  in  the  hand,"  and  while  you  can  not  hope  to  identify  it  as 
easily  as  you  could  a  specimen,  you  will  rarely  fail  to  learn  its  name, 
and  experience  will  render  each  attempt  less  difficult  than  the  pre- 
ceding. 

How  to  Find  Birds. — The  best  times  of  the  day  in  which  to  look 
for  birds  are  early  morning  and  late  afternoon.  After  a  night  of 
fasting  and  resting,  birds  are  active  and  hungry.  When  their  appe- 
tites are  satisfied  they  rest  quietly  until  afternoon,  hunger  again  send- 
ing them  forth  in  search  of  food. 

Chapters  on  Geographical  Distribution  and  Migration,  prepared  under  the  Direc- 
tion of  the  Delaware  Valley  Ornithological  Club,  by  Witmer  Stone,  Conservator 
Ornithological  Section  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia.  8vo,  pp. 
185,  two  diagrams,  two  maps,  352  species.    Price,  %\. 

3.  An  Annotated  List  of  the  Birds  known  to  occur  within  Fifty  Miles  of  New 
York  City,  by  Frank  M.  Chapman.  Published  by  the  American  Museum  of  Natu- 
ral History,  New  York  city,  as  a  guide  to  its  collection  of  local  birds.  8vo,  pp. 
100,  36  cuts,  4  full-page  plates,  348  species.  For  sale  at  the  Museum.  Price,  15 
cents. 


12  WHEN   TO   FIND   BIRDS. 

Experience  will  soon  show  you  the  places  where  birds  are  most 
abundant.  The  more  varied  the  nature  of  the  country  the  greater 
number  of  species  you  may  expect  to  find  inhabiting  it.  An  ideal 
locality  would  be  a  bit  of  tree-dotted  meadow  with  a  reed-bordered 
pond  or  stream,  surrounded  by  woods,  rolling  uplands,  and  orchards. 

Common  sense  will  tell  you  how  to  act  in  the  field.  Birds  are  gen- 
erally shy  creatures  and  must  be  approached  with  caution.  You  must 
not,  therefore,  go  observing  or  collecting  dressed  in  flaming  red,  but 
in  some  inconspicuous  garb  and  as  quietly  as  a  cat.  Furthermore,  go 
alone  and  keep  the  sun  at  your  back — two  apparently  unrelated  but 
equally  important  bits  of  advice. 

The  collector  generally  has  the  instincts  of  a  hunter,  and  practice 
will  develop  them.  The  "  squeak  "  is  one  of  his  most  valuable  aids. 
It  is  made  by  placing  the  lips  to  the  back  of  the  hand  or  finger  and 
kissing  vigorously.  The  sound  produced  bears  some  resemblance  to 
the  cries  of  a  wounded  or  young  bird.  In  the  nesting  season  its  utter- 
ance frequently  creates  much  excitement  in  the  bird  world,  and  at  all 
times  it  is  useful  as  a  means  of  drawing  bush-  or  reed-haunting  species 
from  their  retreats.  One  may  enter  an  apparently  deserted  thicket, 
and,  after  a  few  minutes'  squeaking,  find  himself  surrounded  by  an 
anxious  or  curious  group  of  its  feathered  inhabitants. 

The  observer  of  birds  will  find  that  by  far  the  best  way  to  study 
their  habits  is  to  take  a  sheltered  seat  in  some  favored  locality  and 
become  a  part  of  the  background.  Your  passage  through  the  woods 
is  generally  attended  by  sufficient  noise  to  warn  birds  of  your  coming 
long  before  you  see  them.  They  are  then  suspicious  and  ill  at  ease. 
But  secrete  yourself  near  some  spot  loved  by  birds,  and  it  may  be  your 
privilege  to  learn  the  secrets  of  the  forest. 

When  to  Find  Birds. — During  the  year  the  bird-life  of  temperate 
and  boreal  regions  fluctuates  with  the  changing  seasons.  Birds  may 
thus  be  classed  in  the  following  groups  according  to  the  manner  of 
their  occurrence :  Permanent  residents  are  birds  found  in  one  locality 
throughout  the  year.  Summer  residents  come  from  the  south  in  the 
spring,  rear  their  young,  and  leave  in  the  fall.  Winter  visitants  come 
from  the  north  in  the  fall,  pass  the  winter,  and  leave  in  the  spring. 
Transient  visitants  pass  through  a  given  place  in  migrating  to  and 
from  their  summer  homes  north  of  it.  Accidental  visitants  are  birds 
which  have  lost  their  way.  They  are  generally  young  and  inexperi- 
enced, and  are  usually  found  in  the  fall. 

The  best  time  of  the  year  to  begin  studying  birds  is  in  the  winter, 
when  the  bird  population  of  temperate  regions  is  at  the  minimum. 
The  problem  of  identification  is  thus  reduced  to  its  simplest  terms, 
and  should  be  mastered  before  spring  introduces  new  elements. 


THE   ORNITHOLOGICAL   YEAR.  13 

The  commoner  permanent  residents  of  the  middle  Eastern  States 
are  the  following : 

Bob-white.  Hairy  Woodpecker, 

Ruflfed  Grouse,  Flicker, 

Red-shouldered  Hawk,  Blue  Jay, 

Red-tailed  Hawk,  Crow, 

Sharp-shinned  Hawk,  Meadowlark, 

Barred  Owl,  American  Goldfinch, 

Long-eared  Owl,  Purple  Finch, 

Screech  Owl,  Song  Sparrow, 

Great  Horned  Owl,  White-breasted  Nuthatch, 

Downy  Woodpecker,  Chickadee, 

and  occasionally  the  Waxwing,  Bluebird,  and  Robin  pass  the  winter. 

To  these  should  be  added  the  following  more  or  less  common  winter 

visitant  land-birds : 

Saw- whet  Owl,  Tree  Sparrow, 

Horned  Lark,  J  unco, 

Snowflake,  Northern  Shrike, 

Lapland  Longspur,  Winter  Wren, 

Redpoll,  Golden-crowned  Kinglet, 

American  Crossbill,  Brown  Creeper. 
White-throated  Sparrow, 

Let  us  now  begin  with  the  opening  of  the  spring  migration  and  briefly 
review  the  ornithological  year.  In  the  vicinity  of  New  York  city  the 
first  birds  arrive  from  the  south  late  in  February  or  early  in  March. 
There  is  much  variation  in  the  coming  of  these  early  birds.  Later, 
when  the  weather  is  more  settled,  migrants  arrive  within  a  few  days 
of  a  given  date.  In  April  most  of  our  winter  visitants  leave  for  the 
north.  The  current  of  migration  grows  steadily  stronger  until  about 
May  13,  when  high-water  mark  is  reached.  Then  it  rapidly  subsides 
and  the  spring  migration  is  practically  over  by  June  1.  The  winter 
visitants  have  gone,  the  great  army  of  transients  has  passed  us,  and 
our  bird  population  is  now  composed  of  permanent  residents  with  the 
addition  of  about  ninety  summer  residents. 

Nesting-time  has  arrived,  and  birds  which  for  nearly  a  year  have 
been  free  to  go  and  come  as  inclination  directed,  now  have  homes 
where,  day  after  day,  they  may  be  found  in  tireless  attendance  upon 
the  nest  and  its  treasures.  Courtship,  the  construction  of  a  dwelling, 
the  task  of  incubation,  and  care  of  the  young,  all  tend  to  stimulate  the 
characteristic  traits  of  the  bird,  and  at  no  other  time  can  its  habits 
be  studied  to  better  advantage. 

But  resident  birds  begin  building  long  before  the  migration  is  con- 


14  THE   ORNITHOLOGICAL   YEAR. 

eluded.  The  Great  Horned  Owl  lays  in  February,  other  birds  in 
March  and  April ;  still,  the  height  of  the  breeding  season  is  not 
reached  until  June  1. 

Another  period  in  the  avian  year  closely  connected  with  the  spring 
migration  and  nesting-time  is  the  song  season.  Near  New  York  city 
it  is  inaugurated  late  in  February  by  the  Song  Sparrow.  Voice  after 
voice  is  added  to  the  choir,  and  in  June  our  woods  and  fields  ring  with 
the  chorus  so  dear  to  lovers  of  Nature.  By  the  middle  of  July  it  is  on 
the  wane,  and  early  in  August  it  is  practically  over.  Some  birds  have 
a  brief  second  song  season  in  the  fall,  but  as  a  rule  it  lasts  only  a  few 
days — it  is  a  farewell  to  their  summer  homes.* 

August  is  a  most  discouraging  month  to  the  student  of  birds. 
Birds  leave  their  accustomed  haunts  and  retire  to  secluded  places  to 
renew  their  worn  plumages.  They  are  silent  and  inactive,  and  there- 
fore difficult  to  find.  Late  in  the  month  they  reappear  clad  in  travel- 
ing costumes  and  ready  for  their  southern  journey.  One  by  one  they 
leave  us,  and  there  are  days  late  in  August  and  early  in  September 
when  the  woods  are  almost  deserted  of  birds.  Later  the  fall  migra- 
tion becomes  continuous,  and  each  night  brings  a  host  of  new  arrivals. 

The  spring  migration  is  scarcely  concluded  before  the  fall  migra- 
tion begins.  July  1,  Tree  Swallows,  which  rarely  nest  near  New  York 
city,  appear  in  numbers  from  the  north  and  gather  in  immense  flocks 
in  our  marshes.  Later  in  the  month  they  are  joined  by  Bobolinks. 
Early  in  August  the  careful  observer  will  detect  occasional  small 
flights  of  Warblers  passing  southward,  and  by  September  10  the 
great  southern  march  of  the  birds  is  well  under  way';  it  reaches  its 
height  between  the  20th  and  last  of  the  month,  when  most  of  the  win- 
ter residents  arrive,  and  from  this  time  our  bird-life  rapidly  decreases. 
Some  of  the  seed-  and  berry-eaters  remain  until  driven  southward  by 
the  cold  weather  in  December.  When  they  have  gone  our  bird  popu- 
lation is  again  reduced  to  the  ever-present  permanent  residents  and 
hardy  winter  visitants. 

The  appended  tables  graphically  illustrate  the  rise  and  fall  of  the 
migrations  and  of  the  nesting  season.  The  first  is  based  on  my  own 
observations  at  Englewood,  N.  J.,  kindly  revised  and  supplemented  by 
Mr.  Eugene  P.  Bicknell  from  extended  observations  at  Riverdale,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Hudson  River. 

The  second  was  compiled  from  data  accompanying  the  collections 
of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History. 


*  See  a  series  of  papers  by  Mr.  E.  P.  Bicknell  entitled  "  A  Study  of  the  Sing- 
ing of  our  Birds."  The  Auk,  i,  1884,  pp.  60-71,  126-140,  209-218,  322-332 ;  ii,  1885, 
pp.  144-154,  249-262. 


THE  SPRINC^   MIGRATION. 


15 


Date  of  arrival. 
Feb.  15-Mar.  10. 


March  10-20. 


March  20-31. 


April  1-10. 


April  10-20. 


April  20-30. 


SPRING  MIGRATION. 

Date  of  departure. 

Purple  Grackle November  1-30. 

Easty  Blackbird April-May. 

Ked-winged  Blackbird November  1-30. 

Kobin November  1-30. 

Bluebird November  1-30. 

Woodcock November  1-30. 

Phoebe October  20-30. 

Meadowlark November  1-30. 

Cowbird November  1-30. 

Fox  Sparrow April  1-15. 

Wilson's  Snipe May  1-10. 

Kingfisher November  1-30. 

Mourning  Dove November  1-30. 

Swamp  Sparrow November  1-30. 

Field  Sparrow November  1-30. 

Great  Blue  Heron November  1-30. 

Purple  Finch November  1-30. 

Vesper  Sparrow November  1-30. 

Savanna  Sparrow May  1-15. 

Chipping  Sparrow November  1-30. 

Tree  Swallow May  15-31. 

Myrtle  Warbler May  10-20, 

American  Pipit April  15-25. 

Hermit  Thrush April  25-May  10. 

Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker April  20-30. 

Barn  Swallow October  1-10. 

Yellow  Palm  Warbler April  25-May  10. 

Pine  Warbler May  1-10. 

Louisiana  Water  Thrush September  20-30. 

Kuby-crowned  Kinglet May  1-15. 

Green  Heron October  10-20. 

Spotted  Sandpiper September  20-30. 

Whip-poor-will October  10-20. 

Chimney  Swift October  1-10. 

Least  Flycatcher October  1-10. 

Towhee October  20-30. 

Blue-headed  Vireo May  10-20. 

Purple  Martin September  20-30. 

Cliff  Swallow October  1-10. 

Bank  Swallow October  1-10. 

Eough-winged  Swallow September  1-10. 

Black  and  White  Warbler October  1-10. 

Black-throated  Green  Warbler May  15-25. 

Oven-bird October  1-10. 

House  Wren October  10-20. 

Brown  Thrasher October  10-20. 


16  THE  SPRING   MIGRATION. 

Date  of  arrival.  Date  of  departure. 

April  20-30.  Catbird October  10-20. 

Wood  Thrush October  1-10. 

May  i-10.  Solitary  Sandpiper May  15-25. 

Yellow-billed  Cuckoo October  1-10. 

Black-billed  Cuckoo October  1-10. 

Nighthawk October  10-20. 

Euby-throated  Hummingbird September  20-30. 

Crested  Flycatcher September  20-30. 

Kingbird September  20-30. 

Baltimore  Oriole September  10-20. 

Orchard  Oriole. September  1-10. 

Bobolink October  1-10, 

Yellow- winged  Sparrow October  1-10. 

Indigo  Bunting October  1-10. 

Eose-breasted  Grosbeak September  20-30. 

Scarlet  Tanager October  1-10. 

Eed-eyed  Vireo October  10-20. 

Warbling  Vireo September  20-30. 

Yellow-throated  Vireo September  20-30. 

White-eyed  Vireo October  1-10. 

Nashville  Warbler May  20-30. 

Blue-winged  Warbler September  1-10. 

Parula  Warbler May  20-30. 

Yellow  Warbler September  10-20. 

Black-throated  Blue  Warbler May  15-30. 

Magnolia  Warbler May  15-30. 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler May  20-30. 

Prairie  Warbler May  20-30. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat October  10-20. 

Small-billed  Water  Thrush May  15-30. 

Hooded  Warbler September  20-30. 

Yellow-breasted  Chat September  10-20. 

Eedstart. .    October  1-10. 

Wilson's  Thrush September  20-30. 

May  10-20.  Wood  Pewee September  20-30. 

Acadian  Flycatcher September  1-10. 

Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher May  20-30. 

White-crowned  Sparrow May  15-25. 

Golden-winged  Warbler May  15-25. 

Tennessee  Warbler May  15-25. 

Worm-eating  Warbler September  1-10. 

Cape  May  Warbler May  15-25. 

Blackburnian  Warbler May  15-25. 

Bay-breasted  Warbler May  20-30. 

BlackpoU  Warbler May  25-June  5. 

Wilson's  Warbler May  20-30. 

Canadian  Warbler May  25-Jiine  6. 


THE  FALL   MIGRATION. 


17 


Date  of  arrival. 

May  10-20. 


May  20-30. 


Date  of  arrival. 

August  1-15. 


August  15-31. 


September  1-10. 
September  10-20. 

September  20-30. 


October  1-10. 


Date  of  departure. 

Long-billed  Marsh  Wren October  10-20. 

Short-billed  Marsh  Wren October  10-20. 

Olive-backed  Thrush May  20- June  1. 

Gray-cheeked  Thrush May  25- June  5. 

Traill's  Flycatcher (?) 

Mourning  Warbler May  30-June  5. 

Bicknell's  Thrush (?) 

FALL  MIGRATION. 

MIGRANTS   AEKIVING    FROM   THE   NORTH. 

Date  of  departure. 

Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher September  20-30. 

Golden-winged  Warbler September  1-10. 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler Sept.  30-Oct.  10. 

Canadian  Warbler September  20-30. 

Small-billed  Water  Thrush Sept.  25-Oct.  5. 

Olive-sided  Flycatcher September  10-20. 

Tennessee  Warbler Sept.  25-Oct.  5. 

Nashville  Warbler Sept.  25-Oct,  5. 

Parula  Warbler October  15-25. 

Cape  May  Warbler Sept.  25-Oct.  5. 

Black-throated  Green  Warbler October  15-25. 

Black-throated  Blue  Warbler October  15-25. 

Magnolia  Warbler October  10-20. 

Blackburnian  Warbler September  20-30, 

Wilson's  Warbler September  20-30. 

Canadian  Nuthatch November  1-30. 

Eed-headed  Woodpecker November  1-30. 

Blackpoll  Warbler . .  October  15-25. 

Connecticut  Warbler September  20-30. 

Blue-headed  Vireo October  15-25. 

Philadelphia  Vireo September  20-30. 

Olive-backed  Thrush October  1-10. 

Bicknell's  Thrush October  1-10. 

Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker October  20-30. 

Junco April  10-May  10. 

White-throated  Sparrow May  1-25. 

Myrtle  Warbler May  5-20. 

Yellow  Palm  Warbler October  15-30. 

Brown  Creeper April  1-30. 

Golden-crowned  Kinglet April  1-20. 

Euby-crowned  Kinglet October  20-30. 

Winter  Wren April  1-30. 

Gray-cheeked  Thrush October  15-25. 

Bronzed  Grackle December  1-30. 

Eusty  Blackbird December  1-30. 

American  Pipit Oct,  25-Nov,  5. 


18 


THE  FALL   MIGRATION. 


Date  of  arrival.  Date  of  departure. 

Oct.  1-10.  Hermit  Thrush November  1-30. 

October  10-20.         Fox  Sparrow Nov,  25-Dec.  5. 

October  20-31.         Pine  Tinch May  1-31. 

Tree  Sparrow April  1-30. 

Northern  Shrike March  1-31. 

SUMMER   RESIDENTS    LEAVING    FOR   THE    SOUTH. 

Date  of  departure. 

September  1-10.      Acadian  Flycatcher 

Orchard  Oriole 

Eough- winged  Swallow 

Worm-eating  Warbler 

Blue-winged  Warbler 

September  10-20.    Baltimore  Oriole 

Purple  Martin 

Yellow  Warbler 

Yellow-breasted  Chat 

September  20-30.     Hummingbird 

Kingbird 

Great-crested  Flycatcher 

Wood  Pewee 

Rose- breasted  Grosbeak 

Yellow-throated  Vireo. 

Warbling  Vireo ' 

Hooded  Warbler 

Louisiana  Water  Thrush 

Wilson's  Thrush 

October  1-10.  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo 

Black-billed  Cuckoo 

Chimney  Swift 

Least  Flycatcher 

Bobolink 

Yellow-winged  Sparrow 

Indigo  Bunting 

Scarlet  Tanager 

Barn  Swallow 

Cliff  Swallow , 

Bank  Swallow 

White-eyed  Vireo 

Black  and  White  Warbler 

Eedstart 

0  ven-bird 

Wood  Thrush 

October  10-20.         Whip-poor-will 

Nighthawk 

Red-eyed  Vireo 

Maryland  Yellow-throat 


THE  NESTING  SEASON. 


19 


Date  of  departure. 

Oct.  10-20.  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 

Short- billed  Marsh  Wren , 

House  Wren 

Brown  Thrasher 

Catbird 

October  20-31.         Phoebe 

Towhee 

Tree  Swallow 

November  1-30.*     Woodcock 

Mourning  Dove 

Kingfisher 

Ked-winged  Blackbird 

Purple  Grackle 

Cowbird 

Vesper  Sparrow 

Field  Sparrow 

Chipping  Sparrow 

Swamp  Sparrow 

DATES  AT  WHICH  BIRDS  BEGIN  TO  NEST  IN  THE  VICINITY  OF 
NEW  YORK  CITY.t 

Feb.  28.  Great  Horned  Owl.  May    2.  Osprey. 

Mar.  12.  Barred  Owl.  3.  Cardinal. 

28.  Carolina  Wren.  5.  Cowbird.     [In    Song    Spar- 

30.  Duck  Hawk.  row's  nest.] 

April  1.  Woodcock.  6.  Wood  Duck. 

3.  Eed-shouldered  Hawk.  6.  Green  Heron. 

3.  Screech  Owl.  7.  Flicker. 

6.  Red-tailed  Hawk.  8.  Barn  Swallow. 

9.  American  Crow.  10.  Clapper  Rail. 

9.  Long-eared  Owl.  10.  Killdeer. 

10.  Bluebird.  10.  Rufi'ed  Grouse. 

17.  White- breasted  Nuthatch.  10.  Sparrow  Hawk. 

18.  Broad-winged  Hawk.  10.  Savanna  Sparrow. 
20.  Robin.  10.  Vesper  Sparrow. 

25.  Mourning  Dove.  11.  Louisiana  Water-Thrush. 

25.  Purple  Grackle.  12.  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird. 

28.  Phoebe.  13.  Red-headed  Woodpecker. 

29.  Song  Sparrow.  14.  Acadian  Flycatcher. 
May    1.  Black-crowned  Night  Heron.  14.  Blue  Jay. 

1.  Cooper's  Hawk.  14.  Chipping  Sparrow. 

1.  Kingfisher.  14.  Towhee. 

*  Should  the  season  be  an  exceptionally  mild  one,  many  of  these  birds  may 
remain  until  late  in  December. 

t  Based  on  data  accompanying  the  oological  collections  of  the  American 
Museum,  and  on  the  observations  of  Prof.  Marston  T.  Bogert,  Dr.  J.  Dwight,  Jr., 
Dr.  Evan  M.  Evans,  Mr.  W.  P.  Lemmon,  and  the  author.  The  dates  given  are 
those  on  which,  with  some  exceptions,  full  sets  of  eggs  have  been  taken. 


20 


THE   NESTING  SEASON. 


May  15. 

King  Rail. 

May  25. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat. 

15. 

Virginia  Kail. 

26. 

Bob-white. 

15. 

Meadowlark. 

26. 

Marsh  Hawk. 

16. 

Field  Sparrow. 

28. 

Grasshopper  Sparrow. 

15. 

Swamp  Sparrow. 

28. 

Red-eyed  Vireo. 

16. 

Hooded  Warbler. 

28. 

Yellow- throated  Vireo. 

16. 

Blue-winged  Warbler. 

29. 

Black-billed  Cuckoo. 

16. 

Brown  Thrasher. 

29. 

Kingbird. 

17. 

Fish  Crow. 

29. 

Bobolink. 

17. 

Redstart. 

29. 

Indigo  Bunting. 

17. 

Catbird. 

29. 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 

17. 

Wood  Thrush. 

30. 

Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 

18. 

Red-winged  Blackbird. 

30. 

Orchard  Oriole. 

18. 

Black  and  White  Warbler. 

30. 

Seaside  Sparrow. 

18. 

House  Wren. 

30. 

Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

19. 

Tree  Swallow. 

30. 

Rough-winged  Swallow, 

19. 

Bank  Swallow. 

30. 

Cliff  Swallow. 

19. 

Chickadee. 

30. 

Warbling  Vireo. 

20. 

Rose-breasted  Grosbeak. 

30. 

Prairie  Warbler. 

20. 

Worm-eating  Warbler. 

31. 

Long-billed  Marsh  Wren, 

20. 

Oven-bird. 

31. 

Least  Bittern. 

20. 

Veery. 

June  1. 

Bartramian  Sandpiper. 

21. 

Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

1. 

Piping  Plover. 

21. 

Downy  Woodpecker. 

1. 

Nighthawk, 

21. 

Least  Flycatcher. 

1. 

Kentucky  Warbler. 

22. 

Parula  Warbler. 

3. 

Whip-poor-will. 

23. 

Hairy  Woodpecker. 

3. 

Great- crested  Flycatcher. 

23. 

Chat. 

3. 

Scarlet  Tanager. 

24. 

Purple  Finch. 

6. 

Wood  Pewee. 

24. 

Spotted  Sandpiper. 

7. 

Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

25. 

Chimney  Swift. 

8. 

Laughing  Gull. 

25. 

Baltimore  Oriole. 

12. 

Common  Tern. 

25. 

Purple  Martin. 

19. 

Cedar  Waxwing. 

25. 

White-eyed  Vireo. 

20. 

American  Goldfinch. 

Hints  on  keeping  Note-Boohs  and  Journals. — The  necessity  of  a 
well-kept  journal  can  not  be  too  strongly  urged.  Specimens  may  be 
duplicated,  but  no  one  can  ever  see  with  your  eyes.  Do  not  attempt 
to  trust  to  your  memory — a  willing  servant  of  the  mind  too  frequently 
imposed  upon.  It  may  receive  and  retain  one  impression  clearly,  but 
as  others  are  added  the  earlier  ones  lose  their  distinctness  or  become 
entirely  effaced. 

The  system  adopted  for  recording  notes  should  be  simple  to  keep 
and  easy  of  reference.  The  one  here  recommended  has  stood  the  test 
of  ten  years'  experience.  After  returning  from  the  field  I  enter  in  my 
"roll-book,"  at  once,  a  record  of  the  weather,  temperature,  direction 
and  force  of  the  wind,  locality  visited,  time  of  starting  and  returning, 


NOTE-BOOKS  AND  JOURNALS. 


21 


and  incidental  observations  on  the  blooming  of  flowers,  appearance  of 
certain  insects,  calling  of  frogs,  etc.  Then  follows  a  statement  of  the 
numbers  of  every  species  of  birds  seen,  with  various  remarks  concern- 
ing them.  One  might  suppose  that  much  time  would  be  required  to 
make  a  detailed  record  of  this  kind,  but,  on  the  contrary,  it  seldom 
takes  five  minutes. 

Almost  any  stationer  can  supply  you  with  a  "  roll-"  or  "  time-book  " 
having  a  space  at  the  left  side  of  the  left-hand  page  for  the  entry  of 
names,  and  the  rest  of  both  pages  ruled  in  squares.  The  best  plan  is 
to  have  sheets  of  paper  ruled  in  this  way.  These  sheets  should  have 
holes  punched  in  their  margins  for  binding  in  covers,  when  new  sheets 
can  be  inserted  as  desired.  Some  idea  of  their  appearance  may  be 
gathered  from  the  appended  part  of  a  left-hand  page : 


Date 

Weather 

Temperature 

Wind 

Locality 

Start 

Return 

Remarks 

Bluebird 

Robin 

22  NOTE-BOOKS  AND   JOURNALS. 

After  filling  in  the  preliminary  data  I  write  after  the  name  of  each 
bird  either  the  exact  or  approximate  number  of  individuals  seen,  or  else 
the  letters  "  A.,"  •'  C,"  or  "  T.  C,"  meaning  abundant,  common,  or  tol- 
erably common.  This  is  accompanied  by  an  "  s  "  if  the  bird  is  in  song, 
or  "calls  "  if  it  is  simply  heard  calling.  The  possibilities  of  abbrevia- 
tion are  unlimited,  but  use  no  abbreviation  which  is  not  fully  explained. 

If  you  wish  to  make  a  record  of  some  length  concerning  a  certain 
species,  place  a  cross  or  asterisk  in  its  square.  This  refers  to  your 
journal  of  the  same  date. 

Read  from  left  to  right,  the  roll-book  gives  in  a  graphic,  condensed 
form  the  standing  of  a  species  during  the  period  of  observation.  Read 
from  the  top  to  the  bottom  of  the  page,  it  gives  in  an  easily  comparable 
way  the  complete  record  of  each  day,  and  at  the  same  time  it  becomes 
an  index  to  the  bird-notes  in  your  journal. 

To  prevent  needlessly  multiplying  your  roll-books  the  series  of 
birds'  names  should  be  made  to  last  at  least  during  an  entire  season. 
To  this  end  do  not  completely  fill  the  right-hand  page,  but  when  you 
have  used  all  of  it  but  a  space  equal  in  width  to  the  space  occupied 
by  the  column  of  birds'  names,  cut  this  part  of  the  page — the  ex- 
treme right-  off;  the  part  remaining  will,  when  turned  over  to  the 
left,  just  meet  the  column  of  names,  and  the  lines  of  this  column  and 
the  new  page  will  thus  run  continuously.  As  before  remarked,  the 
roll-book  should  be  attended  to  immediately  on  returning  from  the 
field,  while  your  impressions  are  fresh.  The  journal  may  wait,  when 
a  reference  to  the  roll-book  will  aid  in  recalling  the  day's  experiences. 
In  addition  to  these  two  books,  both  of  which  should  be  quarto  size, 
you  need  a  small,  leather-covered,  pocket  note-book  for  use  in  jotting 
memoranda  in  the  field. 


CHAPTER  III. 

COLLECTING  BIRDS,   THEIR  NESTS,   AND  EGGS. 

Collecting  Birds. — With  few  exceptions,  the  plumages  of  the  birds 
of  the  eastern  United  States  are  well  known  to  science.  You  will  col- 
lect them,  therefore,  purely  for  the  purpose  of  self-education.  To  this 
end  it  is  not  necessary  that  you  should  acquire  the  large  series  of  speci- 
mens found  in  museums.  From  two  to  five  specimens  of  each  kind 
are  enough,  and  when  through  their  medium  you  have  become  famil- 
iar with  the  appearance  of  the  species  they  represent,  use  the  gun  only 
to  add  to  your  list  of  acquaintances.  If  you  wish  to  make  a  detailed, 
critical  study  of  changes  in  the  plumage  of  species  due  to  age,  sex,  or 
season,  or  to  compare  some  apparently  abnormal  specimen,  visit  the 
nearest  museum,  the  collections  of  which  should  be  accessible  to  every 
earnest  student. 

Our  eastern  birds  have  been  measured  and  described,  their  varia- 
tions noted  and  recorded,  and  there  is  little  left  to  learn  in  study- 
ing their  skins  from  a  local  standpoint.  What  we  want  now  is  knowl- 
edge of  the  living,  not  the  dead,  bird.  A  thoroughly  exhaustive 
account  of  the  habits  of  any  one  of  our  commonest  birds  is  still  to  be 
written.  Remember,  then,  that  collections  are  a  means,  not  the  end, 
of  ornithological  research. 

When  armed  and  ready  for  the  field,  you  should  have  a  canvas 
hunting-coat,  a  pair  of  field-  or  opera-glasses,  a  fisherman's  basket  or 
"creel,"  a  discarded  octaA'^o  pamphlet  or  catalogue  of  rather  heavy 
paper,  cotton,  a  small  bottle  of  corn-meal,  and  a  16-bore  shot-gun 
with  a  0*32  auxiliary  barrel,  and  the  necessary  complement  of  shells. 
The  auxiliary  barrel  can  be  purchased  of  dealers  in  natural  history 
supplies ;  it  should  not  exceed  ten  inches  in  length.  The  shells  for 
it  should  be  of  brass,  center-fire,  and  strong  enough  to  stand  reloading 
many  times.  Load  them  with  a  fine-grained  powder  and  No.  12  shot 
— about  three  fifths  powder  and  two  fifths  shot.  For  killing  birds 
from  the  size  of  a  Blue  Jay  downward  they  will  be  effective  at  a  dis- 
tance of  twenty  to  twenty-five  yards.  In  other  words,  fully  three 
fourths  of  your  shooting  will  be  done  with  them.     Of  16-bore  shells 

33 


24  MAKING   BIRDSKINS. 

carry  some  loaded  with  two  and  a  half  drachms  of  powder  and  three 
fourths  of  an  ounce  of  No.  10  shot,  and  a  few  others  loaded  with  the 
same  charge  of  powder  and  an  ounce  of  No.  6  shot. 

On  killing  a  bird,  pick  it  up  by  the  bill  or  feet,  and  at  once  sprinkle 
meal  or  dry  earth  on  any  blood  which  may  be  visible.  When  this  is 
saturated,  scrape  it  off  with  a  knife-blade  and  repeat  the  operation 
until  all  the  blood  is  absorbed.  Sprinkle  some  meal  at  the  base  of  the 
feathers  about  the  shot-holes  from  which  the  blood  appears,  or,  if 
necessary,  plug  these  holes  with  bits  of  cotton.  Place  a  large  plug 
of  cotton  in  the  mouth  and  force  it  well  down  the  throat  to  prevent 
bleeding  at  the  mouth  from  an  internal  wound.  In  some  cases  it  is 
necessary  to  also  plug  the  nostrils.  Now  make  a  cornucopia  from  a 
leaf  of  the  pamphlet,  drop  the  bird  in  it  head  foremost,  taking  care 
that  the  bill  is  not  turned  forward  on  to  the  throat,  and,  if  the  bird 
is  not  too  large,  fold  in  the  edges  of  the  cornucopia  and  place  the 
specimen  in  your  basket.  In  the  case  of  very  large  specimens — 
Hawks,  Owls,  etc. — it  is  advisable  to  skin  out  the  body  in  the  field, 
when  they  can  be  packed  in  much  smaller  space. 

Making  Birdskins. — If  you  have  fully  decided  to  make  a  collection 
of  birds,  the  very  best  and  cheapest  way  to  begin  it  is  to  get  some 
one  to  give  you  two  or  three  lessons  in  the  art  of  preparing  birdskins. 
With  proper  instruction  it  is  not  difficult  to  learn  to  skin  birds.  I 
have  known  beginners  who  had  closely  watched  experts  at  work,  make 
fair  skins  at  their  first  attempt — better  skins,  indeed,  than  the  person 
who  learns  only  from  written  directions  may  ever  make.  I  am  speak- 
ing from  experience.  Only  too  clearly  do  I  remember  my  own  first 
attempts  at  skinning  birds  and  their  hopelessly  wretched  results.  In 
despair  I  at  last  sought  the  assistance  of  a  distant  ornithological  friend. 
In  one  lesson  he  made  the  process  so  clear  to  me  that  I  was  at  once 
enabled  to  make  skins  twice  as  quickly  and  twice  as  well.  However, 
we  unfortunately  are  not  all  blessed  with  ornithological  friends  to 
whom  we  can  turn  for  advice,  and  I  therefore  append  the  following 
directions  for  making  birdskins : 

First  procure  a  scalpel  with  a  well-rounded  end,  a  pair  of  sharp- 
pointed  scissors  with  rather  long  handles,  a  pair  of  blunt-ended,  rather 
strong  scissors,  and  a  pair  of  flat-ended  forceps.  These  may  be  pur- 
chased of  any  dealer  in  naturalists'  supplies  or  at  a  surgical  instrument 
maker's.  Procure  also  a  quart  or  so  of  fine  corn-meal  to  use  as  an  ab- 
sorbent, a  pound  or  two  of  powdered  arsenic  and  alum  mixed  in  equal 
parts,  and  an  abundance  of  the  best  cotton  batting  money  will  buy. 
Now  we  are  ready  to  begin  with  a  bird,  say,  the  size  of  a  Robin  :  1. 
Plug  the  bird's  throat  and  nostrils  tightly  with  fresh  cotton.  If  the 
eyeball  is  ruptured,  pull  it  out  with  the  forceps  and  fill  the  cavity 


MAKING   BIRDSKINS.  25 

with  meal.  2.  Lay  the  bird  before  you  on  its  back,  its  bill  pointing 
to  the  left ;  place  your  open  left  hand  lengthwise  on  it,  so  that  the 
base  of  your  first  and  second  fingers  rests  on  the  middle  of  the  breast- 
bone ;  use  these  fingers  and  the  handle  of  the  scalpel  to  separate  the 
feathers  from  near  the  end  of  the  breastbone  to  the  vent,  and  when 
the  parting  is  made  use  the  same  fingers  to  hold  the  feathers  aside. 
3.  With  the  scalpel  make  an  incision  in  the  skin  from  just  in  front 
of  the  end  of  the  breastbone,  or  at  the  base  of  the  V  formed  by  the 
spread  fingers,  to  the  vent,  being  careful  not  to  cut  through  into  the 
abdomen.  4.  Sprinkle  a  pinch  of  meal  along  the  cut.  5.  Lift  the 
skin  at  the  front  end  of  the  cut  and  insert  the  end  of  the  scalpel  handle 
between  it  and  the  breastbone.  If  you  try  to  do  this  lower  down  on 
the  cut,  over  the  belly,  you  will  find  it  difficult  to  separate  the  skin 
on  which  the  feathers  grow  from  the  immediately  underlying  skin 
which  covers  the  abdomen.  Separate  the  skin  from  the  body  the  whole 
length  of  the  cut  and  as  far  down  toward  the  backbone  as  possible, 
thus  exposing  the  bare  knee.  6.  Take  hold  of  the  foot  and  push  the 
knee  farther  up  into  view,  then  take  the  blunt-ended  scissors  and,  on 
the  inside  of  the  skin,  clip  the  leg  entirely  in  two.  7.  Repeat  opera- 
tions 5  and  6  on  the  other  side  of  the  body.  8.  Press  away  the  skin 
as  much  as  possible  on  either  side  of  the  rump,  and  place  the  thumb 
at  the  left  side  (left,  seen  from  above)  of  the  base  of  the  tail  or  "  pope's 
nose,"  with  the  first  finger  on  the  other  side  (both  inside  the  skin)  and 
the  second  finger  behind  (above)  on  the  rump ;  now  with  the  blunt 
scissors  cut  through  the  flesh  between  the  thumb  and  first  finger 
toward  the  second  finger,  which  serves  the  purpose  of  a  guard  to  pre- 
vent you  from  cutting  through  the  skin.  9.  Stand  the  bird  on  its 
breastbone,  the  belly  toward  you,  and  with  both  thumbs  press  the 
tail  and  skin  of  the  rump  over  and  down  off  the  stump  from  which 
you  have  just  cut  it.  10.  When  the  stump  is  free  from  the  skin,  take 
hold  of  it  with  the  right  hand  and  with  the  fingers  of  the  left  gently 
press  the  skin  from  the  body,  keeping  it  constantly  turned  inside  out 
and  using  an  abundance  of  meal.  11.  Soon  the  wing-bones  (humerus) 
will  appear.  Clip  them  off  at  either  side  close  to  the  body,  and  re- 
sume skinning  as  before.  12.  The  skin  will  slip  easily  over  the  neck, 
and  you  will  then  meet  with  an  obstruction  in  the  head.  13.  Work 
the  skin  carefully  over  the  head,  using  the  tips  of  the  first  two'  fingers 
of  either  hand,  placing  the  thumbs  as  a  brace  farther  forward  over  the 
eyes.*    14.  Pull  the  ears  carefully  from  their  sockets.     15.  The  eyes 


*  In  large-headed  birds,  like  Ducks  and  Woodpeckers,  this  is  impossible,  and 
it  is  necessary  to  slit  the  skin  down  the  back  of  the  neck  and  push  the  skull 
through  the  opening. 


20  MAKING    A   BIHDSKIN. 

will  now  appear ;  carefully  cut  the  membrane  joining  the  skin  and 
eyeball,  making  the  incision  as  far  back  as  possible,  in  order  to  avoid 
cutting  the  skin,  which  should  be  pulled  forward  until  it  is  entirely 
free  of  the  eyeball.  16.  Remove  the  eyes  with  the  forceps.  17.  With 
the  sharp-pointed  scissors  make  an  incision  directly  across  the  roof  of 
tue  mouth,  inside  the  branches  of  the  lower  mandible,  just  back  of  the 
skin,  and  below  the  eye-sockets.  18.  With  the  sharp-pointed  scissors 
make  incisions  from  either  end  of  this  cut  back  along  the  branches  of 
the  lower  mandible  through  the  base  of  the  skull  on  either  side  of  the 
neck  at  its  junction  with  the  skull.  19.  Connect  these  cuts  by  a  fourth, 
which  passes  through  the  base  of  the  skull  just  above  the  neck,  and 
pull  the  body  and  neck  from  the  skull.  20.  Scoop  out  what  brains 
remain  with  the  handle  of  the  scalpel.  21.  Pull  the  end  of  the  wing- 
bone  (humerus)  inward,  skinning  the  feathers  off  the  bones  of  the  fore- 
arm (radius  and  ulna),  and  remove  the  flesh.  22.  Do  the  same  thing 
for  the  legs,  but,  after  cleaning,  do  not  in  either  case  pull  the  bones 
back.  23.  Remove  as  much  flesh  as  possible  from  the  base  of  the  tail, 
including  the  oil-gland  at  the  base  of  the  tail  above.  24.  Hold  the 
skin  over  the  arsenic  and  alum  box,  and  with  a  bit  of  fluffy  cotton  at 
the  end  of  a  stick,  or  held  in  the  forceps,  dust  it  thoroughly  with  the 
poison,  giving  an  extra  allowance  to  the  base  of  the  tail  and  bones  of 
the  skull,  wings,  and  legs.  25.  Pull  the  legs  back  into  place.  26. 
Place  a  fluff  of  cotton  on  the  end  of  a  wire  and  roll  it  into  a  firm,  smooth 
ball,  placing  one  in  each  eye-socket.  27.  Coax  the  skin  back  over  the 
head,  using  the  first  two  fingers  of  each  hand  and  placing  the  thumbs 
at  the  base  of  the  skull.  When  the  tip  of  the  bill  appears  through 
the  feathers,  use  the  fingers  outside,  on  the  feathers,  pressing  the  skin 
back  over  the  head,  and  keeping  the  thumbs  in  the  same  position. 
When  the  bill  is  free,  take  it  with  the  right  hand,  and  use  the  fingers 
of  the  left  to  urge  the  skin  over  the  skull,  being  careful  to  get  it  in 
its  former  place  so  that  the  feathers  of  the  head  will  lie  smoothly. 
28.  Dress  the  feathers  of  the  head,  particularly  those  about  the 
eye.  29.  Take  hold  of  the  tip  of  the  bill  and  shake  the  skin  gently 
but  vigorously  to  aid  in  settling  the  plumage.  30.  Lay  the  skin  on 
its  back,  the  bill  pointing  from  you,  and  turn  back  the  feathers 
about  the  opening  on  the  belly.  31.  See  that  the  wing-bones  lie  flat 
on  the  Back  of  the  skin,  with  their  ends  touching  each  other.*     32. 


*  The  most  difficult  part  in  making  a  birdskin  is  to  induce  the  wings  to  aS' 
sume  anything  like  their  natural  position  when  closed.  This  is  because  the  arti- 
ficial, cotton  body  is  apt  to  force  them  outward  on  to  the  sides  rather  than  on 
the  back,  where  they  belong. 

In  the  bird  in  the  flesh  the  wings  are  held  in  place  by  being  attached  to  the 
body  ;  in  the  skin  they  are  loose  and  hanging.    To  remedy  this,  after  drawing 


sExma.  27 

Take  a  bit  of  fluffy  cotton,  press  it  lightly  together,  and  draw  out 
one  end  to  form  a  neck.  When  released  from  your  grasp  this  cotton 
body  should  be  but  little  larger  than  the  body  you  have  removed  from 
the  skin.  33.  Take  the  end  of  the  neck  with  the  forceps  and  insert  it 
gently  into  the  neck  of  the  skin,  working  the  skin  down  on  to  it  in 
order  to  avoid  stretching  the  neck,  until  the  points  of  the  forceps  ap- 
pear in  the  mouth,  then  hold  the  cotton  there  and  withdraw  the  for- 
ceps. 34.  Carefully  fit  the  cotton  body  into  the  skin.  35.  Put  one  or 
two  stitches  in  the  incision  on  the  belly.  36.  Ascertain  the  sex  of  the 
bird  (see  beyond).  37.  Cross  the  legs,  and  at  the  point  of  intersection 
attach  a  label  (see  beyond).  38.  Squeeze  the  wing-bones  together  until 
you  feel  the  tips  of  your  fingers  meet  over  the  bird's  back.  39.  Pre- 
pare a  sheet  of  cotton  about  five  inches  square  and  as  thin  as  you  can 
make  it ;  lay  the  bird  on  this  on  its  right  side,  the  bill  pointing  to  your 
right  hand.  40.  Put  the  left  wing  in  place  and  dress  the  feathers  about 
it.  41.  Take  hold  of  the  sheet  of  cotton,  and  turn  the  bird  over  in  it  in 
order  that  you  may  dress  the  right  wing.  42.  Roll  the  bird  on  to  its 
belly,  holding  the  wings  in  position  with  the  thumb  and  first  finger 
of  the  left  hand,  and  with  the  right  hand  bring  the  tips  of  the  wing- 
feathers  into  their  proper  place  over  the  back.  43.  Roll  the  bird  back 
on  to  its  back,  the  bill  pointing  to  your  right  hand ;  take  the  end  of 
the  sheet  of  cotton  farthest  from  you  and  draw  it  lightly  over  the 
bird  to  the  side  nearest  you.  44.  Draw  the  end  nearest  you  in  the 
opposite  direction.  45.  See  that  the  feet,  tail,  and  tips  of  the  wings 
are  in  their  proper  position,  and  place  your  specimen  out  of  harm's 
way  to  dry. 

It  will  doubtless  take  you  from  half  an  hour  to  an  hour  to  make 
your  first  birdskin.  It  will  probably  be  a  sorry-looking  object,  per- 
haps minus  a  head  or  tail  or  half  its  feathers ;  but  do  not  let  this  dis- 
courage you.  An  expert  can  make  ten  birdskins  an  hour,  and  you 
need  only  practice  to  approach  this. 

There  are  endless  variations  of  the  method  here  described.  It  is 
not  possible  to  go  into  further  details  here,  and  if  you  have  taxider- 
mic  ambitions  I  would  advise  you  to  procure  a  copy  of  Mr.  W.  T. 
Hornaday's  excellent  Taxidermy  and  Zoological  Collecting  (Scribner, 
12.50). 

Sexing. — A  specimen  without  a  sex  mark  on  its  label  is  of  com- 
paratively little  value.     The  sex  in  many  birds  can  of  course  be  dis- 

the  wing-bones  in  to  remove  the  flesh  from  them,  they  should  be  pushed  back 
only  far  enough  to  enable  one  to  see  plainly  the  elbow  or  bend  of  the  wing  out- 
side of  the  skin.  This  prevents  the  wings  from  hanging,  and,  to  further  keep 
them  in  place,  it  will  be  well  at  first  to  tie  the  ends  of  the  bones  (.humeri)  to- 
gether. 


28  '  CATALOGUING   AND   LABELING. 

tinguished  by  their  color,  but  the  young  male  frequently  resembles 
the  female,  while  in  some  instances  the  female  has  been  known  to  as- 
sume the  plumage  of  the  male.  Dissection,  therefore,  is  the  only  safe 
way  to  determine  sex.  Upon  reaching  stage  36,  in  the  operation  of 
making  a  birdskin,  cut  through  the  left  side  of  the  body  from  the 
vent  to  the  neck,  taking  care  not  to  disturb  the  internal  organs.  Force 
the  edges  of  the  opening  apart,  and,  pressing  the  intestines  gently  to 


,    Fig.  1.— a  completed  birdskin.    (Reduced). 

one  side,  look  for  the  sexual  organs,  which  will  be  found  on  the  walls 
of  the  small  of  the  back  very  near  to  the  backbone.  The  male  organs 
(testes),  two  in  number,  are  usually  dull-white,  elongate  bodies  lying 
side  by  side.  The  female  organs  (ovaries)  are  composed  of  numerous 
round  bodies  lying  in  a  mass  or  cluster.  In  the  breeding  season  the 
sexual  organs  of  birds  become  much  enlarged,  and  at  this  season  the 
testes  of  a  male  Chipping  Sparrow  are  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  while 
the  ovaries  of  the  female  have  been  likened  to  a  bunch  of  grapes,  the 
largest  being  the  size  of  the  yolk  of  the  egg  of  this  species.  After  the 
breeding  season  the  sexual  organs  decrease  in  size,  and  in  adults  in  the 
winter  and  young  birds  are  sometimes  difficult  to  find.  The  testes  of 
a  male  Chipping  Sparrow  at  that  season  are  about  as  large  as  a  small 
pinhead,  while  a  hand-lens  is  required  to  plainly  distinguish  the  ova- 
ries of  the  female.  The  arrow  of  Mars  ( (?)  is  used  to  indicate  the  male 
sex ;  the  mirror  of  Venus  (  9  )  the  female  sex. 

Cataloguing  and  Labeling. — Before  skinning  your  birds  you  should 
catalogue  them.  The  catalogue  should  have  columns  giving  (1)  the 
date,  (2)  your  serial  collection  number,  (3)  name  of  the  bird,  (4)  sex, 
(5)  place  of  capture,  (6)  name  of  collector,  and  (7)  remarks.  In  the  last 
column  enter  any  notes  on  the  color  of  the  eyes,  or  parts  which  will 
change  color  when  drying,  contents  of  the  stomach,  and  other  notes. 
In  addition  to  this  "  day-book  "  or  "  blotter  "  some  ornithologists  open 
a  ledger  account  with  their  collection,  and  devote  a  folio  to  each  spe- 
cies where  are  posted  the  entries  made  in  the  collection  register. 

Labels  should  be  of  strong  bond  paper,  two  inches  and  a  half  long 
and  half  an  inch  wide.  They  are  attached  to  the  crossed  legs  of  the 
bird  by  linen  thread  strung  through  their  left  end.  The  face  of  the 
label  bears  the  name  and  sex  of  the  bird,  place  and  date  of  capture, 


CARE   OF   COLLECTIONS.  29 

name  of  collector,  and  serial  collection  number.  The  label  shown  in 
Fig.  1  is  small,  bat  will  illustrate  the  appearance  and  manner  of  at- 
tachment. The  name  of  the  owner  of  the  collection  is  printed  on  the 
back  of  the  label,  preceded  by  the  words  "  Collection  of." 

Many  collectors  prefer  to  use  as  a  field  label  a  small  jeweler's  tag 
upon  which  the  collection  number,  sex,  and  date  are  written.  The 
large  label  is  added  after  the  specimen  is  dry. 

Care  of  a  Collection. — The  best  cases  in  which  to  keep  a  collection 
of  birdskins  are  known  as  "  Cambridge  cans."  They  are  made  of  tin 
with  covers  which  fit  into  grooves  lined  with  rubber  tubing,  and  aie 
practically  air-tight.  The  smaller  sizes  cost  from  five  dollars  to  seven 
dollars  and  a  half  each,  and  can  be  obtained  of  Muller  and  Wood,  731 
Seventh  Avenue,  New  York  city. 

A  wooden  cabinet  with  tight-fitting  drawers  and  door  is  less  ex- 
pensive, and  with  ordinary  care  will  preserve  specimens  for  a  prac- 
tically indefinite  period.  The  drawers  should  be  thirty  inches  long  by 
sixteen  inches  in  width.  For  birds  the  size  of  a  Robin  a  depth  of  one 
inch  and  three  quarters  is  sufficient,  while  drawers  four  inches  deep 
will  take  the  largest  Hawks  or  Owls.  These  drawers  will  hold  about 
thirty  birds  the  size  of  a  Robin,  eighty  the  size  of  a  Chickadee,  and 
eight  to  ten  Hawks  and  Owls. 

Well  cleaned  and  thoroughly  poisoned  specimens  of  small  birds  are 
not  likely  to  be  attacked  by  the  moth  {Tinea)  or  beetles  (Dermestes 
and  Anthrenus)  which  so  often  infest  poorly  prepared  or  nonpoisoned 
skins.  Naphthaline  crystals  or  camphor  gum  should  be  placed  in 
each  drawer  of  the  cabinet,  the  door  of  which  should  not  be  left  open 
needlessly.  If  a  specimen  falls  a  victim  to  insects,  the  better  plan  is 
to  discard  it  at  once.  If,  however,  it  is  rare,  it  may  be  taken  out-of- 
doors  and  placed  in  an  air-tight  box  with  a  few  tablespoonfuls  of 
bisulphuret  of  carbon. 

Collecting  and  Preserving  Nests  and  Eggs. — No  one,  I  think,  will 
venture  to  dispute  the  assertion  that  Captain  Charles  Bendire,  Hon- 
orary Curator  of  the  Department  of  Oology  in  the  United  States  Na- 
tional Museum,  is  our  leading  authority  on  the  study  of  birds'  eggs. 
The  following  quotation,  therefore,  from  Captain  Bendire's  Instruc- 
tions for  Collecting,  Preparing,  and  Preserving  Birds'  Eggs  and  Nests  * 
may  be  taken  as  the  opinion  of  one  who  knows  whereof  he  speaks : 
"  Unless  the  would-be  collector  intends  to  make  an  especial  study  of 
oology  and  has  a  higher  aim  than  the  mere  desire  to  take  and  accu- 
mulate as  large  a  number  of  eggs  as  possible  regardless  of  their  proper 
identification,  he  had  better  not  begin  at  all,  but  leave  the  nests  and 


*  Part  D,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  39,  1891,  pp.  3-10. 


30  COLLECTING   NESTS   AND   EGGS. 

eggs  of  our  birds  alone  and  undisturbed.  They  have  too  many  ene- 
mies to  contend  with,  without  adding  the  average  egg  collector  to  the 
number.  The  mere  accumulation  of  specimens  is  the  least  important 
object  of  the  true  oologist.  His  principal  aim  should  be  to  make  care- 
ful observations  on  the  habits,  call  notes,  song,  the  character  of  the 
food,  mode  and  length  of  incubation,  and  the  actions  of  the  species 
generally,  from  the  beginning  of  the  mating  season  to  the  time  the 
young  are  able  to  leave  the  nest.  This  period  comprises  the  most  in- 
teresting and  instructive  part  of  the  life-history  of  our  birds."  Very 
heartily  do  I  indorse  every  word  of  this,  and  to  the  concluding  sen- 
tence I  would  add  :  and  there  can  be  no  better  way  to  avoid  increasing 
our  knowledge  of  a  bird's  domestic  life  than  to  rob  it  of  its  eggs,  and 
destroy  its  home  and  our  own  opportunities  at  the  same  time.  Studied 
from  a  local  standpoint,  I  confess  I  can  see  only  two  points  of  interest 
in  a  bird's  egg — one  is  what  the  egg  is  in,  the  other  is  what  is  in  the 

Nevertheless,  I  can  understand  the  pleasure  attending  the  legiti- 
mate formation  of  what  Captain  Bendire  calls  "  a  small,  thoroughly 
identified,  well-prepared,  and  neatly  cared  for  collection,"  which,  as 
the  same  author  adds,  "  is  worth  far  more  scientifically  and  in  every 
other  way  than  a  more  extensive  one  gained  by  exchange  or  purchase." 

An  egg-collector's  outfit  consists  of  several  drills,  an  embryo-hook, 
a  blowpipe,  forceps,  and  scissors.  A  fresh  egg  should  be  blown 
through  a  hole  slightly  larger  than  the  tip  of  the  blowpipe.  Drill 
the  hole  in  the  side  of  the  egg,  and,  after  inserting  the  blowpipe  about 
one  sixteenth  of  an  inch,  blow  gently  and  steadily  until  the  contents 
have  been  removed.  Then  rinse  the  egg  thoroughly  with  water  and 
lay  it  hole  downward  on  corn-meal  to  drain. 

In  eggs  containing  embryos  it  is  necessary  to  make  a  hole  large 
enough  to  permit  of  the  use  of  the  embryo-hook,  scissors,  or  forceps, 
as  the  case  may  be. 

Each  egg  should  be  marked  with  the  number  of  the  species  in  the 
Check  List  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union,  the  number  of  the 
set  in  your  collection,  and  the  number  of  eggs  in  the  set.  Thus,  if  I 
were  going  to  label  my  second  set  of  four  eggs  of  the  Bluebird,  I  should 
write  with  a  lead  pencil  on  each  egg,  near  the  hole,  766|. 

There  are  many  ways  of  displaying  collections  of  eggs.  Some  col- 
lectors place  their  eggs  in  little  boxes  or  partitions  filled  with  sawdust 
or  cotton ;  Captain  Bendire  uses  small  pasteboard  trays  lined,  bottom 
and  sides,  with  cotton  wadding,  and  divided  into  partitions  for  each 
egg  by  strips  of  cotton  wadding  set  on  edge.  It  is,  however,  very 
largely  a  matter  of  taste,  and  collectors  generally  have  their  own  ideas 
on  these  matters. 


COLLECTING   NESTS  AND  EGGS.  3^^ 

A  collection  of  birds'  nests  is  a  telling  object  lesson  in  the  study 
of  ornithology.  Familiar  as  I  am  with  them,  I  never  see  the  nests  of 
some  birds  without  feeling  the  most  intense  admiration  for  the  mar- 
velous skill  which  has  aided  them  in  forming  a  structure  man  would 
find  it  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  duplicate.  A  bird's  nest  in  its 
original  site  is  a  concrete  expression  of  the  intelligence  of  its  maker ; 
for  the  foresight  displayed  in  the  choice  of  a  situation,  and  the  inge- 
nuity shown  in  the  construction  of  the  nest,  even  if  largely  instinctive 
now,  originated  in  the  intelligence  of  a  line  of  ancestors. 

Nests  may  be  collected  before  they  have  been  used,  when  the  birds 
will  generally  build  again ;  or  you  may  wait  and  take  them  after  the 
birds  have  left  them,  labeling  each  nest  with  what  you  have  learned 
of  the  history  of  its  owners.  For  example  :  Time  required  for  its  con- 
struction ;  whether  made  by  one  or  both  sexes ;  notes  on  the  laying  of 
the  eggs ;  period  of  incubation ;  whether  both  sexes  assisted  in  incu- 
bation ;  care  of  the  young ;  number  of  days  they  were  in  the  nest,  etc. 

Some  nests,  for  example  the  pendent  "  baskets  "  of  Vireos  or  such 
as  are  placed  in  crotches,  should  be  taken  with  the  crotch  or  branch 
to  which  they  are  attached. 

With  others  it  is  obviously  impossible  to  do  this.  They  should 
therefore  be  placed  in  a  frame  of  wire  and  wrapped  about  with  fine 
wire  thread.  To  make  this  frame,  twist  two  pieces  of  annealed  wire, 
painted  brown,  into  the  shape  of  a  letter  X.  About  midway  from  the 
point  of  intersection  and  the  end  of  the  arm,  bend  the  wires  upward 
at  right  angles.  Now  take  the  fine  hair  or  thread  wire  and  wind  it 
about  the  four  horizontal  arms  of  the  frame  until  its  bottom  looks 
like  a  spider's  web ;  place  the  nest  in  this  half-formed  basket,  bend 
the  upright  wires  inward  or  outward  as  the  case  requires,  and  continue 
winding  until  the  nest  is  bound  firmly.  The  size  of  the  frame  and 
the  wire  used  in  its  construction  may  be  varied  to  suit  the  nest. 


PLAN   OF   THE   WORK. 

Nomenclature. — The  nomenclature  of  the  American  Ornithologists 
Union's  *  Check-List  of  North  American  Birds  has  been  adopted.  The 
number  preceding  the  name  of  each  species  is  its  permanent  number 
in  the  Union's  "  Check-List." 

Definition  of  Terms. — The  accompanying  figure  with  its  named 
parts  will  explain  the  meaning  of  the  terms  used  in  the  following  de- 
scriptions of  birds.  The  words,  upper  parts  and  under  parts,  men- 
tioned so  frequently,  refer  respectively  to  the  whole  upper  or  under 
surfaces  of  the  iody  of  the  bird  from  the  base  of  the  bill  to  the  root  of 
the  tail,  but  are  not  applied  to  either  wings  or  tail. 

There  are  infinite  variations  in  the  markings  of  feathers,  and  those 
figured  present  only  the  patterns  most  frequently  met  with.  The 
shaft  of  the  feather  is  the  midrib,  to  either  side  of  which  the  vanes 
or  webs  are  attached. 

The  Keys. — It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  thoroughly  under- 
stand the  use  of  the  keys.  At  first  sight  they  will,  no  doubt,  appear 
confusing,  but  in  reality  they  are  exceedingly  simple.  The  system 
upon  which  they  are  arranged  may  be  mastered  in  a  few  minutes,  and 
you  will  then  be  surprised  at  the  ease  and  rapidity  with  which,  even 
in  large  families,  you  can  "run  a  bird  down." 

The  Key  to  Families. — Strictly  speaking  this  is  not  one  key  but  a 
series  of  keys,  one  under  each  order. 

The  orders  are  placed  in  a  natural  sequence — that  is,  we  begin  with 
the  oldest  or  lowest  forms  of  birds.  Loons,  Grebes,  etc.,  and  end  with 

*  The  American  Ornithologists'  Union  is  the  leading  society  of  its  kind  in 
this  country.  Its  membership  includes  the  foremost  ornithologists  of  the  world, 
and  is  divided  into  four  classes  :  1.  Honorary  members,  limited  to  25  in  number. 
2.  Active  members,  limited  to  50  in  number,  who  must  be  residents  of  North 
America.  3.  Corresponding  members,  limited  to  100  in  number ;  and  4.  Asso- 
ciate members,  who  must  be  residents  of  North  America,  and  are  not  limited  as 
to  number.  The  total  membership  of  the  Union  in  December,  1894,  was  616. 
Annual  meetings  are  held,  usually  in  Washington,  New  York,  or  Cambridge. 
The  Auk,  the  official  organ  of  the  Union,  is  a  quarterly  journal  under  the  editor- 
ship of  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  at  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

32 


USE  OF   THE  KEYS. 


33 


the  most  highly  developed  ones,  Thrushes,  Bluebirds,  etc.     Two  main 
divisions  are  given :  first,  Water  Birds ;  second,  Land  Birds.    In  no 


o 

IS 


J3 

be 


a 

O 

o 
H 


case  will  it  be  difficult  to  decide  in  which  of  these  groups  a  bird  be- 
longs. Now  glance  over  the  illustrations  and  select  the  one  which 
you  think  most  nearly  resembles  the  bird  you  are  identifying.    At 


34 


USE   OF   THE   KEYS. 


each  step  test  your  decision  by  reading  the  brief  diagnoses  of  orders 
and  families.  In  this  way  you  may  readily  place  your  bird  in  its 
proper  family. 

The  Keys  to  Species.— \i  a  bird  always  wore  the  same  plumage  it 
would  be  a  comparatively  easy  matter  to  place  it  in  a  certain  section 


Fig.  3.— Spotted  (a),  streaked  (6),  barred  (c),  and  margined  (d)  feathers. 


of  a  key  and  keep  it  there.  But,  unfortunately,  not  only  are  the  males 
and  females  of  the  same  species  frequently  quite  unlike,  and  the  young 
different  from  either,  but  their  plumages  may  vary  with  the  season. 
Thus,  you  see,  a  bird's  color  is  a  most  uncertain  quantity.  An  individ- 
ual of  a  given  species  may  not  only  wear  two  very  different  costumes, 
but,  in  doffing  one  for  another,  he  does  it  gradually,  and  in  the  mean- 
time appears  in  changing  or  transition  plumage. 

For  this  reason  it  has  been  customary  to  base  keys  on  only  adult 
males.  Such  keys  do  very  well  in  the  nesting  season,  when  birds  are 
in  song,  and  when  males  constitute  probably  nine  tenths  of  the  birds 
one  sees.  But  at  other  times  of  the  year  young  birds  outnumber  the 
old  ones,  and  the  adults  themselves  may  lose  their  breeding  plumage 
and  wear  quite  a  different  one.  I  have,  therefore,  attempted  to  make 
keys  which  will  identify  a  bird  in  any  plumage.  To  do  this  it  was 
necessary  to  use  many  more  specimens  than  there  were  species.  For 
example,  the  key  to  our  some  40  species  of  Warblers  is  based  on  110 
specimens  representing  as  many  phases  of  plumage. 

With  identification  as  the  sole  end  in  view  I  have,  in  the  keys, 
abandoned  all  attempts  to  follow  the  current  system  of  classification, 
and,  taking  color  as  the  most  tangible  character,  have  to  a  great  extent 
arranged  the  species  on  this  character  alone.  The  result,  from  the  sys- 
tematist's  standpoint,  is  most  unnatural.     Species  of  different  genera 


USE   OF   THE   KEYS.  35 

are  brought  into  the  same  subsections,  and  the  more  variable  species 
may  be  placed  in  several  widely  separated  sections. 

The  maker  of  keys,  however,  should  not  try  to  serve  two  masters. 
If  the  keys  will  identify,  they  will  have  accomplished  their  purpose. 
The  classification  of  our  birds  is  shown  in  the  body  of  the  book,  where 
the  species  are  arranged  according  to  the  system  adopted  by  the  Ameri- 
can Ornithologists'  Union. 

In  making  these  keys  the  birds  are  first  assorted  into  several  major 
sections  or  groups,  according  to  the  markings  of  some  one  part  of  the 
body.  Each  one  of  these  sections  is  preceded  by  the  same  kind  of 
number  or  letter.  The  heading  of  a  group  or  section  applies  to  all  the 
species  included  in  it.  Thus,  if  I  does  not  apply  to  the  bird  you  are 
identifying,  you  must  pass  at  once  to  II,  or  III,  or  IV,  as  the  case  may 
be.  In  like  manner,  if  the  bird  does  not  fall  into  sections  1,  A,  or  a, 
we  go  to  2,  B,  or  b,  respectively.  Even  should  the  first  section  describe 
your  bird,  it  is  well  to  read  the  sections  which  are  contrasted  with  it. 

As  a  model  to  show  how  the  keys  are  used,  let  us  identify,  first,  a 
male  adult  Red-winged  Blackbird — a  black  bird  with  a  red  and  buff 
shoulder-patch.  Turning  to  the  key  to  the  family  Icteridce,  or  Black- 
birds, Orioles,  etc.,  we  read : 

"I.  With  yellow  or  orange  in  the  under  parts. 

"  II.  Under  parts  black,  with  or  without  metallic  reflections. 

"  III.  Under  parts  grayish,  slate  color,  chestnut,  or  buffy. 

"  IV.  Under  parts  black  and  white,  or  black  tipped  and  margined 
with  rusty." 

Our  bird  has  the  under  parts  entirely  black,  so  it  evidently  belongs 
in  Section  II.  Under  this  section  we  read :  "  A.  Outer  tail-feather  0*75 
or  more  shorter  than  middle  ones;  bill  1*00  or  more  in  length."  Our 
bird  has  all  the  tail-feathers  of  nearly  equal  length,  the  bill  less  than 
an  inch  long.  It  can  not  therefore  belong  in  A,  so  we  go  to  B  and 
read :  "  Outer  tail-feather  little  if  any  shorter  than  middle  ones ;  bill 
less  than  1-00  in  length."  There  is  no  other  section,  and  we  con- 
clude that  our  bird  belongs  here.  Now  we  find  a,  h,  c,  d,  each  one 
placed  directly  beneath  the  other,  and  each  one  leading  to  the  name 
of  a  species.  This  means  that  the  statement  following  these  letters 
refers  to  some  mark  or  character  by  which  one  of  these  species  may  be 
known  from  the  other,  and  that  we  should  read  them  all.  First  comes 
"a.  Entire  plumage  bluish  black."  That  will  not  do.  Second,  "6.  A 
red  and  buff  shoulder-patch."  Evidently  this  refers  to  our  bird,  but 
we  confirm  our  belief  by  glancing  at  c  and  d,  neither  of  which  can 
apply  to  our  specimen ;  we  decide,  therefore,  that  it  is  a  Red-winged 
Blackbird,  and  turning  to  the  extended  description  of  Agelaius  phm- 
niceus  verify  our  identification. 


36  USE   OF  THE   KEYS. 

Now  let  us  take  a  somewhat  less  simple  case — a  male  English  Spar- 
row. This  bird,  you  will  doubtless  remember,  has  a  black  patch  on 
the  throat  and  breast,  a  slate-colored  crown,  chestnut  marks  on  the 
sides  of  the  head,  and  a  streaked  back.  Turning  to  the  key  to  the 
family  FringillidcB,  or  Finches,  Sparrows,  etc.,  we  read  first  the  head- 
ings to  the  main  divisions  which,  in  the  larger  families,  are  placed  at 
the  beginning  of  the  key  in  order  that  they  may  be  more  readily  com- 
pared. 

"  I.  Under  parts  with  red. 

*'  II.  Under  parts  with  no  red,  and  without  distinct  streaks ;  throat 
or  breast  sometimes  with  a  patch  or  spot. 

"  III.  Under  parts  without  red,  and  with  numerous  streaks." 

Our  bird  undoubtedly  belongs  in  Section  II.  Under  this  section 
we  read  first :  "  1.  Tail  with  white  spots,  bars,  or  patches."  Our  bird 
has  no  white  in  the  tail,  so  we  go  to  "  2  "  and  read :  '•  Without  large 
white  spots  or  patches  in  the  tail."  There  is  no  number  3,  so  we  have 
no  hesitation  in  placing  our  bird  in  Section  "  2."  The  first  subsection 
here  is  "  A.  Back  without  distinct  streaks."  Our  bird  is  unquestion- 
ably streaked,  and  we  therefore  go  to  "  B.  Back  distinctly  streaked." 
There  is  no  Section  G,  and  it  follows  that  our  bird  belongs  in  ''  B." 
Under  B  we  have  "  a.  Bend  of  the  wing  yellow  "  and  "  h.  Bend  of 
the  wing  not  yellow."  Our  bird  has  no  yellow  on  the  wing,  and  we 
therefore  place  it  in  subsection  h.  This  subsection  is  subdivided 
into  ''  h^.  Crown  bright  reddish  brown,"  etc.,  "  c\  Crown  streaked  or 
spotted,"  etc.,  and  "  d}.  Crown  mixed  grayish  brown  and  rufous,  ashy, 
or  slate-color,  without  black  streaks."  Evidently  our  bird  belongs  in 
the  group  headed  d},  which  we  find  includes  four  species,  rf',  d^,  d\ 
and  d^.  After  reading  the  characters  assigned  to  each  of  these,  we 
have  no  hesitation  in  deciding  that  those  under  d^  apply  to  our  bird, 
and  we  prove  our  identification  by  turning  to  the  description  of  Passer 
domesticiis. 

I  have  purposely  taken  a  comparatively  complicated  case.  If  I 
have  made  it  clear,  you  will  have  no  further  difficulty  in  using  the 
keys,  so  far  as  their  construction  goes.  It  might  be  supposed,  from 
this  somewhat  lengthy  description,  that  the  process  required  much 
time ;  but  as  you  become  familiar  with  the  use  of  the  keys  it  should 
never  take  you  more  than  five  minutes  to  identify  a  bird  with  them. 

Descriptions  of  Plumage. — The  descriptions,  with  quoted  excep- 
tions, are  from  specimens  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  His- 
tory, and  my  thanks  are  due  the  authorities  of  that  mstitution  for 
permission  to  use  its  valuable  collections.  I  have  tried  to  make  them 
as  concise  and  simple  and,  at  the  same  time,  as  detailed  as  seemed 
necessary  for  the  purpose  of  identification. 


MEASUREMENTS— RANGE. 


37 


Measurements. — All  the  measurements  given  are  in 
English  inches  and  hundredths.  Those  of  birds  are 
average  measurements,  taken  for  the  most  part  from 
specimens  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  His- 
tory. I  have  also,  with  the  author's  permission,  made 
use  of  the  excellent  series  of  measurements  in  Dr.  E.  A. 
Mearns's  Birds  of  the  Hudson  Highlands.  A  variation 
of  about  ten  per  cent  from  the  figures  given  may  be 
expected. 

The  total  length  {=  L.)  of  a  bird  is  found  by  gently 
stretching  the  specimen,  laying  it  on  its  back,  and 
measuring  the  distance  from  the  end  of  its  bill  to  the 
tip  of  its  longest  tail-feather.  The  length  of  the  wing 
(r=  W.)  is  the  distance  from  the  "  bend  of  the  wing  "  to 
the  end  of  the  longest  primary.  The  length  of  the  tail 
(=  T.)  is  the  distance  from  the  base,  or  insertion  of  the 
middle  feather,  to  the  end  of  the  longest  feather.  The 
length  of  the  tarsus  (=  Tar.)  is  the  distance  from  the 
base,  or  insertion  of  the  toes,  to  the  end  of  the  tibia,  or 
what  in  reality  is  the  heel.  The  "  tarsus  "  is  therefore 
the  true  foot  of  the  bird,  while  the  part  to  which  this 
name  is  generally  applied  consists  only  of  the  toes. 
The  length  of  the  bill  (=  B.),  or  '•  culmen,"  is  the  dis- 
tance from  the  anterior  base  of  the  feathers  on  the 
forehead  to  the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible.  With  the 
exception  of  total  length  these  measurements  are  gen- 
erally taken  with  a  pair  of  dividers. 

Range. — The  paragraphs  under  this  heading  have 
been  prepared  with  special  reference  to  the  bird's  dis- 
tribution in  eastern  North  America.  They  are  sup- 
plemented by  a  concise  statement  of  the  bird's  manner 
of  occurrence  and  the  usual  times  of  migration  of  the 
nonresident  species  at  three  or  four  localities  This 
information  is  the  best  it  is  possible  to  obtain,  and  has 
not  been  previously  published.  Each  locality  is  treated 
by  a  recognized  authority  on  its  bird-life  from  notes 
based  on  observations  extending  over  many  years. 

The  data  from  Washington,  D.  C,  were  supplied  by 
Mr.  0.  W.  Richmond,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 
Not  only  has  Mr.  Richmond  given  years  to  field  work 
in  the  District  of  Columbia,  but  he  has  had  access  to 
the  notes  of  the  numerous  ornithologists  who  have 
observed  in  the  same  region. 


- 

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38  LOCAL  BIRD-LISTS. 

The  water-birds  of  Long  Island  are  treated  by  Mr.  William  Dutcher, 
of  New  York  city,  who  has  for  years  made  our  coast  birds  a  subject  of 
especial  investigation.  Sportsmen,  lighthouse-keepers,  and  ornitholo- 
gists have  all  aided  him  in  acquiring  an  unrivaled  series  of  observa- 
tions upon  the  movements  of  waterfowl  and  bay  birds. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  of  the  Division  of  Ornithology  in  the  U.  S.  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  has  supplied  the  notes  from  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y. 
This  locality  formed  the  field  of  his  ornithological  labors  for  fifteen 
years.  Within  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Ossining  Dr.  Fisher  has  ob- 
served no  le^  than  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  species  of  birds.  Prob- 
ably no  area  of  similar  extent  in  the  United  States  has  been  more 
carefully  studied  or  yielded  better  results. 

Cambridge,  Mass.,  is  historic  ground  in  the  annals  of  ornithology. 
From  the  time  of  Nuttall  it  has  never  lacked  for  earnest  students  of 
its  :bird-life.-  Nevertheless,  no  list  of  Cambridge  birds  has  ever  ap- 
peared. It  is  with  unusual  pleasure,  therefore,  that  I  include  annota- 
tions on  the,  birds  of  this  region  by  Mr.  William  Brewster,  who  has 
made  a  lifelong  study  of  New  England  birds,  and  particularly  of 
those  found  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home  at  Cambridge.* 

The  value  of  their  contributions  renders  it  evident  that  I  am  under 
deep  obligations  to  these  gentlemen,  and  I  thank  them  most  sincerely 
for  their  generous  assistance. 

■Nests  and  Eggs. — The  brief  descriptions  of  nests  and  eggs  are  r»ased 
on  the  collections  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  sup- 
plemented by  the  use  of  Baird,  Brewer,  and  Ridgway's  Hisiory  of 
North, American  Birds,  Davie's  Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American 
Birds,  Ridgway's  Manual,  and  Captain  Bendire's  Life  Histories  of 
North  American  Birds.  In  describing  the  eggs  the  color  chart  was 
used  when  possible ;  but  it  was  designed  with  particular  reference  to 
the  plumages  of  our  birds,  and  is  of  less  assistance  in  describing  their 
eggs.  The  measurements  of  eggs  are  mostly  from  series  of  measure- 
ments made  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Bailey,  accompanying  the  Bailey  collection  in 
the  American  Museum,  supplemented  by  reference  to  the  works  men- 
tioned above. 

Biographies. — After  devoting  separate  paragraphs  to  the  bird's 
general  range,  its  manner  of  occurrence,  comparative  numbers,  times 
of  migration  at  several  specific  points,  and  its  nest  and  eggs,  the  space 
remaining  is  given  to  a  brief  sketch  of  its  haunts,  notes,  and  disposi- 
tion, with  the  particular  object  of  aiding  in  its  identification  in  the 
field. 


*  Strictly  maritime  birds  whose  occurrence  within  five  miles  of  Cambridge  is 
casual  or  accidental  are,  as  a  rule,  excluded. 


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BIOGRAPHIES-ILLUSTRATIONS.  39 

In  preparing  these  biographical  sketches  I  have  aimed  to  secure 
the  best  material  possible,  using  my  own  notes  only  when  I  felt  they 
were  based  on  adequate  observations.  Not  only  have  I  carefully  ex- 
amined the  literature  relating  to  the  habits  of  our  birds,  selecting 
what  seemed  to  be  the  most  trustworthy  accounts  of  their  appearance 
in  life,  but  through  the  generous  co-operation  of  fellow-students  of 
living  birds  I  am  able  to  present  character  sketches  of  some  of  our 
birds,  written  by  observers  who  are  everywhere  known  for  their  sym- 
pathy with  birds  out-of-doors.  Thus  I  have  to  thank  Mrs.  Miller, 
Miss  Merriam,  Mr.  Bicknell,  Mr.  Brewster,  Dr.  Dwight,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, and  Mr.  Torrey  for  pen  pictures  of  birds  with  which  they  are 
especially  familiar,  each  sketch  being  signed  by  its  author. 

Illusirations. — The  colored  frontispiece  is  by  Mr.  Ernest  E.  Thomp- 
son, whom  I  have  to  thank  for  assistance  in  preparing  the  color  chart 
and  Key  to  Families.  The  scheme  of  this  key,  which  is  founded  on 
natural  arrangement  and  on  drawings  of  anatomical  details,  is  original 
with  him,  and  that  here  presented  is  a  slight  modification  of  the  one 
he  completed  and  contributed  at  a  time  when  he  was  expected  to  be  a 
joint  author  of  this  work.  The  numerous  pen-and-ink  drawings,  which 
add  so  largely  to  the  value  of  the  work,  were  made  by  Mr.  Tappan 
Adney  from  specimens  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History. 
Some  of  the  full-page  half-tone  plates  are  from  photographs  of  groups 
in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History ;  the  larger  number,  how- 
ever, were  especially  designed  for  this  work,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
J.  Rowley,  Jr. 

The  Color  Chart. — It  must  not  be  supposed  for  a  moment  that  the 
colors  on  the  Plate  II.  represent  the  colors  of  all  the  birds  of  eastern 
North  America.  It  does  not  do  so  any  more  than  an  artist's  palette 
shows  all  the  colors  of  his  picture — in  fact,  I  have  called  this  plate 
my  mental  palette,  and  have  frequently  used  two  and  even  three  terms 
to  describe  a  given  shade  or  tint. 

It  should  be  clearly  understood,  therefore,  that  when  grayish  brown, 
for  example,  is  mentioned,  it  does  not  follow  that  the  feathers  to  which 
the  term  is  applied  are  of  exactly  the  same  color  as  the  plate,  but  that 
they  are  nearer  to  this  color  than  to  any  other  in  the  plate.  Used  even 
in  this  general  way,  the  plate  will  prove  a  far  more  definite  basis  for 
description  than  if  every  one  were  left  to  form  his  own  idea  of  the 
colors  named. 


LIST   OF   ABBREVIATIONS. 

Ad.  Adult ;  a  fully  matured  bird. 

A.  V.  Accidental  visitant  (see  page  12). 

B.  Bill. 

B.  from  N.  Bill  from  nostril. 

$  The  sign  employed  to  designate  female  sex  (see  page  27). 

Im.  Immature;  the  term  is  generally  applied  to  birds  less 
than  a  year  old,  or  to  those  which  have  not  acquired 
the  plumage  of  the  adult. 

L.  Total  length. 

$  The  sign  employed  to  designate  male  sex  (see  page  27). 

P.  R.  Permanent  resident  (see  page  12). 

S.  R.  Summer  resident  (see  page  12). 

T.  Tail. 

Tar.  Tarsus. 

T.  V.  Transient  visitant  (see  page  12). 

W.  Wing. 

W.  V.  Winter  visitant  (see  page  12). 

40 


THE  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA  EAST  OF  THE 
NINETIETH   MERIDIAN. 

KEY  TO  ORDERS  AND  FAMILIES. 
THE  WATER  BIRDS. 


Fig.  5. 

Order  I*    Pygopodes* — Grebes,  Loons,  and  Auks. 

Ducklike  birds  with  generally  sharply  pointed  bills  ;  feet  webbed,  placed 
far  back  near  the  tail ;  tarsus  much  flattened ;  hind  toe,  when  present, 
with  a  lobe  or  flap ;  bill  without  toothlike  projections  ;  tail  very  short 
and  sometimes  apparently  wanting. 
A.  Toes  four,  tipped  with  a  broad  nail. 

a.  Toes    with    lobate    webs.  .  .  .  Family 
Grebes  (Fig.  5,  a),  p.  56. 

b.  Toes  webbed.  .  .  .  Family  drinatoridoe, : 
5,  0),  p.  58. 

£.  Toes  three,   tipped  with    a    sharp    nail. 


Fodicipidce : 

LooNS  (Fig. 


Alcidce:  Auks,  Murres,  and  Puffins  (Fig.  5,  c),  p.  60o 


Order  U,  Liongipennes.  —  Jaegers, 
Gulls,  and  Terns. 
Birds  with  sharply  pointed  and  frequently 
hooked  or  hawklike  bills ;  toes  four  (ex- 
cept in  one  genus — Kissn),  the  front  ones 
webbed ;  wings  long  and  pointed. 

41 


Fig  6. 


42 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


A.  Tip  of  the  upper  mandible  more  or  less  swollen,  rounded,  and 
sharply  pointed;  upper  parts,  including  wings,  and  sometimes  the 
entire  plumage,  dark  sooty  blackish,  sometimes  irregularly  barre'd ; 
tail  always  dark,  the  middle  feathers  longest.  .  .  .  Family  Sterco- 
rariidiE :  Skuas  and  Jaegers  (Fig.  6,  a),  p.  65. 

£.  Upper  mandible  curved  but  not  swollen  at  the  end ;  tail  generally 
white,  sometimes  tipped  with  black ;  the  tail-feathers  usually  of  about 
equal  length.  .  .  .  Subfamily  LarincB :  Gulls  (Fig.  6,  J),  p.  67. 


Fig.  8. 


C.  Bill  straight,  not  hooked  and  sharply  pointed ;  outer  tail-feathers 
generally  longer  than  the  middle  ones.  Subfamily  Sterninoe :  Terns 
(Fig.  7),  p.  76.  ■ ,;  ^ 

D.  Bill  thin  and  bladelike,  the  lower  mandible  much  longer  than  the 
upper  one.  .  .  .  Family  Rynchopidce, :  Skimmers  (Fig.  8),  p.  85. 


Fig.  9. 

Order  III.     Tubina/res. — Albatrosses,  Petrels,  and  Fulmars. 

Bill  hawklike,  the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible  generally  much  enlarged; 
nostrils  opening  through  tubes ;  hind  toe  reduced  to  a  mere  nail,  and 
sometimes  entirely  wanting. 

A.  Size  very  large,  nostrils  separated  and  on  eithier  side  of  the  bill.  .  .  . 
Family  Diomedeidce :  Albatrosses  (Fig.  9,  a),  p.  86. 

B.  Size  smaller,  nostrils  joined  and  placed  on  top  of  the   bill.  .  .  . 
Family  ProceUariidce :  Petrels,  Fulmars,  and  Shearwaters  (Fig. 

9,  &),  p.  86. 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


43 


Fio.  13. 


Fig.  13. 


(S^Hi 


Fig.  11. 


Fig.  14. 


Fig.  10. 


Fig.  15. 


Order  IV.     Steganopodes. — Gannets,   Cormorants,   Pelicans   (Fig. 
10),  etc. 
All  the  toes,  including  the  hind  one,  connected  by  webs. 

A,.  Bill,  generally  sharply  pointed,  without  a  hawklike  hook  at  its  tip. 
-    yd!  CSin,-  or  spaije  between  the  forks  of  the  lower  mandible,  feath 
C  ■•     ered.  ■  i  ■  Fa^il^.  i^haethontidce :  Tropic  Birds  (Fig.  11),  p.  91. 
lb.  Chin  bare.     ■  [    ' 

i^.  Bill  stout  aiid  slightly  curved  at  the  tip;  middle  tail-feathers 
without  "flutings".  .  .  .  Family  tiulidoe:    Gannets   (Fig.  12), 

'  ':\.  ^p.  92.  

;.  4. -,i*.    Bill   straight  and  slender;    middle  tail-feathers    fluted,  .  .  . 

•";;;Family  AnMngidce '.  Darters  (Fig.  13),  p.  93. 
B.  Biik^vith  a  hawklike  hook  at  the  tip. 

a.  Lores  hare. 
ai.  Bill  over  12-00,  with  a  large  pouch. 

Pelicans,  p.  95. 
a^.  Bill  under  12-00,  no   large  pouch.  . 
cidce:  Cormorants  (Fig.  14),  p.  94. 

b.  Lores  feathered.  .  .  .  Family  FregatidcB :  Man-o'-war  Birds  (Fig. 


.  Family  Felecanidoe : 
Family  Phalacrocora- 


44 


KEY  TO  FAMILIES. 


Order  V.    Anseres. — Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans. 

Toes  four,  the  front  ones  fully  webbed ;  tarsus  not  strikingly  flattened  as 
in  the  Grebes;  tail  always  well  developed;  bill  with  toothlike  projec- 
tions, fluted  ridges,  or  gutters  along  its  sides, 

1.  Bill  very  long,  narrow,  and  rounded,  with  numerous  toothlike  pro- 
jections along  its  sides.  .  .  .  Subfamily  Mergince :  Mebqansebs  (Fig. 
16),  p.  98. 


Fig.  16. 

Bill  more  or  less  flattened  and  ducklike. 
A.  Lores  feathered, 
a.  Tarsus  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  without  nail;  scales  on  its 
front  transverse,  more  or  less  square, 
o^.  Hind  toe  without  a  flap  or  lobe.  .  .  .  Subfamily  Anatinoi'. 

River  Ducks  (Fig,  17,  a),  p,  100, 
a^".  Hind  toe  with  a  flap  or  lobe,  .  .  ,  Subfamily  Fulignlince; 
Sea  and  Bay  Ducks  (Fig.  17,  b),  p.  107. 


Fig.  17. 


b.  Tarsus  generally  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  without  nail ;  scales 
on  its  front  rounded.  .  .  .  Subfamily  Anserince :  Geese,  p.  119. 
£.  Lores  bare.  .  .  .  Subfamily  Cygnina, :  Swans,  p.  124. 


KEY  TO  FAMILIES. 


45 


Order  VI.    Odontoglossse 

Large  red  or  reddish 
birds ;  bill  with  tooth  like 
ridges  as  in  some  Ducks, 
the  end  half  bent  down- 
ward ;  tarsus  12-00  or  more 


-Flamingoes. 


in  length.  .  .  . 
Phmnicopteridee 
MINGOES,  p.  125., 


Family 
Fla- 


FiG.  18. 


Order  VII.    Herodiones.— Herons,  Storks,  Ibises,  etc. 

Toes  four,  all  on  the  same  level,  slightly  or  not  at  all  webbed ;  lores  bare; 
legs  and  neck  generally  much  lengthened. 


^TH' 


Fig.  19. 


Fi&.  20. 


Fig.  21. 

A.  Bill  straight  and  sharply  pointed ;  inner  border  of  the  middle  toe- 
nail with  a  comblike  edge.  .  .  .  Family  Ardeidce :  Herons,  Egrets, 
and  Bitterns  (Fig.  19),  p.  128. 

£.  Bill  rounded,  more  or  less  curved  downward  ;  no  comb  on  the  mid- 
dle toe-nail. 
a.  Size  large,  tarsus  over  5-00.  .  .  .  Family  Ciconiidce:  Storks  and 

Wood  Ibises,  p.  127. 
f>.  Size  smaller,  tarsus  under  5*00.  .  .  .  Family  Ibididce:  Ibises  (Fig. 
20),  p.  126. 

C.  Bill  flattened  and  much  broadened  at  the  end.  .  .  .  Family  Plata- 
leidcB :  Spoonbills  (Fig.  21),  p.  125. 


46 


KEY  TO   FAMILIES. 


Fig.  22 


Order  VHI.    Paludicolae. — Cranes,  Eails,  etc. 

Toes  four ;  middle  toe  without  a  comb,  generally  not  webbed ;  hind  -toe 
generally  small,  higher  than  the  front  ones,  or,  if  on  the  same  level  (G'al- 
linules  and  Coots  only),  the  bill  is  then  comparatively  short  and  stout 
and  the  forehead  has  a  bare  shield;  lores  feathered,  or  (Cranes) -iisvith 
hairlike  bristles. 


Fig.  24. 


A.  Smaller,  bill  under  3-00.  . 

and  Coots  rFig.  22),  p.  139 

£.  Larger,  bill  over  3*00 

a.  Tarsus  over  6'00.  .  , 

b.  Tarsus  under  6-00. 
p.  138. 


Family  Rallidoe  :  Kails,  Gallinules, 


Family  GruidcB:  Cranes  (Fig.  23),  p.  137. 
.  Family  AramidcB:    Courlans  (Fig.  24), 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 

a 


47 


Fi&.  25. 


Order  IX.   LiimicolaB.— Phalaropes,  Snipes,  Plovers,  etc. 

Toes  four,  or  (Plovers)  tliree;  the  hind  toe,  when  present,  less  than  half 
the  length  of  the  inner  one,  and  always  elevated  above  the  others;  legs 
generally  long  and  slender,  the  lower  half  of  the  tibiae  bare ;  bill,  except 
in  the  Plovers,  generally  long,  slender,  and  soft,  the  nostrils  opening 
through  slits  or  grooves ;  wings  long  and  pointed,  the  first  primary  gen- 
erally the  longest. 


Fig.  26. 


I.  Tarsus  oyer  3; 50, ... .  .  Yaixiilj  Becurvirostridce  :  Stilts  and  Avocets, 
p.  149. 

II.  Tarsus  under  3-50. 

A.  Sidesof  the  toes  with  lobes  or  webs.  .  .  .  'Family  Phalaro2)odidcB : 
Ph  u.akopk'j  (Fig.  26,  a),  p.  147. 

B.  i^ide-^  of  tlie  tocb  without  lobed  webs. 

a.  Tot'S  ftmr  (e\oept  in  the  Sanderling) ;  front  of  the  tarsus  with 
transverse,  more  or  less  square,  scales.  .  .  .  Family  Scolopacidce. ; 
Snipes,  Sandpipers,  etc.  (Fig.  25,  a,  b ;  Fig.  26,  b,  c),  p.  150. 

b.  Whole  lower  back  white,  a  black  band  across  the  rump.  .  .  , 
Family  Aphrizidie :  Turnstones,  etc.,  p.  176. 

c.  Toes  three  (except  in  the  Black-bellied  Plover);  front  of  the 
tarsus  with  small,  rounded  scales. 

oi.  Bill  under  2-00.  .  .  .  Family  Charadriidoe :  Plovers  (Fig.  25, 
c,  d ;  Fig.  26,  d,  e),  p.  171. 
'  •  c'.  Bill  ov€r  iVOO.  .  .  .  Family  Hcematopodidoe :  Oyster-catchers, 
p.  177. 


48 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


THE   L,AND   BIRDS. 

Order  X.   GallinSB. — Turkeys,  Grouse,  Bob-whites,  etc. 

Toes  four,  the  hind  one  small  and  elevated 
above  the  front  ones  ;  bill  generally  short,  stout, 
hard,  and  horny  ;  wings  rather  short,  the  outer 
primaries  curved  and  much  stiffened. 

A.   Size  very  large.  .  .  .  Subfamily  Meleag- 

rinoe  :  Turkeys,  p.  186. 
£.    Size  smaller.   .   .   .   Family    Tetraonidce : 

Grouse,  Bob-whites,  etc.  (Fig.  27),  p.  178.  fxq.  27. 


Order  XI.    Columbae.— Pigeons  and  Doves. 

Toes  four,  all  on  the  same  level,  the  hind  one 
about  as  long  as  the  shortest  front  one;  bill 
rather  slender,  deeply  grooved,  the  nostrils  open- 
ing in  a  soft,  lieshy  membrane  or  skin.  .  .  . 
Family  Oolumbidce :  Pigeons  and  Doves  (Fig. 
28j,  p.  187. 


Fig.  29. 


Order  XII.    Raptores. — Vultures,  Hawks,  and  Owls. 

Toes  four,  three  in  front,  the  hind  one,  except  in  the  Vultures,  generally 
as  long  as  or  longer  than  the  shortest  front  one ;  all  the  toes  armed  with 
strong,  sharp,  curved  nails  or  talons  ;  bill  with  a  cere,  or  covering  of 
skin,  at  its  base,  through  which  the  nostrils  open,  very  stout  and  strong, 
the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible  with  a  sharply  pointed  hook. 


„^_, '^••N^.? 


Fig.  30. 


Fio.  31. 


A.  Eyes  set  in  a  striking  facial  disk ;  tarsus  generally  feathered ;  plum 
age  soft  and  fluffy. 


KEY  TO   FAMILIES. 


49 


a.  Middle  toe-nail  with  a  comblike  edge. 
Owls  (Fig.  30j,  p.  213. 

b.  Middle  toe-nail  without  a  eomblike  edge.  .  . 
Horned  Owls,  Hoot  Owls  (Fig.  29,  a),  p.  213, 


Family  Strigidce :  Barn 
Family  Buhonidas, : 


Fig.  32 


Fig.  33. 


£.  Eyes  not  set  in  a  striking  facial  disk ;  tarsus  mostly  bare,  plumage 
firm  and  close. 

a.  Plumage,  in  our  species,  black ;  hind  toe  small,  claws  blunt ;  bill 
not  sharply  hooked ;  head  generally  bare.  .  .  .  Family  Cathartidce : 
American  Vultures  (Fig.  32),  p.  191. 

b.  Hind  toe  generally  as  long  as  or  longer  than  the  shortest  front  one  ; 
toes  armed  with  sharp,  curved  nails  or  talons ;  bill  with  a  sharp 
hook,  head  not  bare.  .  .  .  Family  Falconidce :  Falcons,  Kites, 
Hawks,  Eagles  (Figs.  29,  *,  83),  etc.,  p.  193. 


Order    XIII.      Psittaci.— 

Parrots,  Paroquets,  etc. 
Toes  four,  two  in  front  and 
two  behind  ;  bill  with  a  cere. 
.  .  .  Family  Psittacidoe  :  Par- 
rots and  Paroquets  (Fig.  34), 
p.  222. 


Fig.  34. 


Order  XIV.  Coccyges.— Cuckoos  and 
Kingfishers. 
Toes  four,  the  middle  and  outer  ones 
joined  for  half  their  length  (Kingfishers), 
or  two  in  front  and  two  behind  (Cuckoos) ; 
bill  without  a  cere;  tail-feathers  not  stiff 
and  pointed. 


Fig.  36. 


50 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


A.  Middle  and  outer  toes  joined  for  half  their  length.  .  .  .  Family  Al- 
cedinidce:  Kingfishers  (Fig.  35),  p.  226. 

B.  Two  toes  in  front  and  two  behind.  .  .  .  Family  Cuculidce:  Cuckoos 

(Fig.  36),  p.  224. 


Fig.  37. 

Order  XV.    Pici.— Woodpeckers. 

Toes  four,  two  in  front  and  two  behind,  or  toes  three,  two  in  front  and 
one  behind ;  bill  strong ;  tail-feathers  stiff  and  pointed ;  nostrils  more  or 
less  concealed  by  bristles.  .  .  .  Family  Picidce:  Woodpeckers  (Fig.  37). 
p.  227. 


Fig.  38.. 


Fig.  40. 


Order  XVI.  Ma,crochires. — Goatsuckers,  Swifts,  and  Hummingbirds. 
Feet  very  small  and  weak ;  bill  short  and  small  and  mouth  large,  or  bill 
long  and  exceedingly  slender  and  mouth  small ;  wings  generally  long  and 
pointed. 

A.  Size  comparatively  large ;  plumage  variegated,  black  and  brown ; 
middle  toe-nail  with  a  comblike  edge.  .  .  .  Family  Caprhaulgidm : 
NiGHTHAWKS,  Whip-poor-wills,  etc.  (Fig.  38),  p.  236. 
£.  Size  medium;  plumage  sooty  black;  no  comb  on  the  middle  toe- 
nail ;  tips  of  the  tail-feathers  with  spines.  .  .  .  Family  Micropodidoe : 
Swifts  (Fig.  39),  p.  239. 
O.  Size  very  small;  upper  parts  shining  green;  bill  long  and  slender 
.  .  .  Family  Trochilidce:  Hummingbirds  (Fig.  40),  p.  240. 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


51 


Family  1.   TyrannidoB.- 


Order  XVII.    Passeres. — Perching  Birds :  Flycatch- 
EKS,  Blackbirds,  Jays,   Orioles,   Sparrows,  Finches, 
Swallows,  Vireos,  "Warblers,  Weens,  Thrushes,  etc. 
Toes  four,  without  webs,  all  on  the  same  level ;  hind  toe 
as  large  as  the  middle  one,  its  nail  generally  longer  than 
that  of  the  middle  one ;  tail  of  twelve  feathers. 
[The  following  synoptical 
table  of   the    characters 
of  the  eighteen  families 
which   we  have   in  this 

order  seems   more  satis-  _,^ 

factory  than  an  artificial  — ""^  "7^^=^    J-^ 

^^^^  (^-         Fia.  41. 

-Flycatchers  (Fig.  42). 

Bill  wider  than  high  at  the  base, 
slightly   hooked   at  the  tip  ;    base 
with    conspicuous    bristles ;    wings 
longer  than  the  tail,  the  second  to 
fourth   primaries   longest,  the  first 
but    little    shorter    and    generally 
equal  to  the  fifth  or  sixth ;  back  of 
tarsus    rounded^    like    the    front  ; 
plumage    generally   olive-green    or 
grayish  ;  tail,  except  in  the  King- 
bird, without  white  spots,  p.  242. 
Family  2.  Alaudidce. — Larks  (Fig.  43). 
Bill  rather  stout  and  rounded  ;  nos- 
trils with  bristly  tufts ;  nail  of  hind 
toe  much  lengthened,  as   long   as 
the  middle  toe  without  nail ;  back 
of  the  tarsus  rounded  like  the  front, 
p.  252. 


Fio.  44. 


Family  3.   Corvidce. — Crows  and  Jays  (Fig.  44). 
Large  birds,  over  10-00  in  length  ;  bill  stout,  the  nostrils  concealed  by  tufts 
of  bristly  feathers ;  fourth  to  fifth  primary  the  longest,  the  first  about  half 
as  long ;  outer  tail-feathers  shortest ;  feet  and  legs  stout,  p.  253. 


62 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


Fig.  45. 


Family  4.  iSturnidce.-^^TAj^ 
LINGS  (Fig.  46). 
Bill  flattened,  wider  than 
high  at  the  base  ;  tail  short 
and  square ;  wings  long 
and  pointed,  second  pri- 
mary longest,  the  first  very 
small,  less  than  half  an 
inch  in  length,  p.  259. 


Family  5.  Icteridce. — Blackbirds,  Orioles,  etc.  (Fig.  46). 

Length  7"00-17'00  ;  base  of  the  bill,  between  the  nostrils,  extending  back- 
ward and  dividing  the  feathers  of  the  forehead ;  nostrils  not  concealed  by 
bristles ;  first  three  primaries  of  about  equal  length  ;  outer  tail-feathers 
generally  shortest,  p.  260. 


^K-^ 


Fig.  47. 


Family  6.  Fringillidoe. — Spar- 
rows, Finches,  Gros- 
beaks, etc.  (Fig.  47). 
Length  4-75-9'00,  generally 
under  8-00  ;  bill  short,  stout, 
and  conical,  admirably  fit- 
ted to  crush  seeds ;  third 
and  fourth  primaries  gen- 
erally about  the  same  length, 
the  first  never  more  than 
half  an  inch  shorter  than 
the  longest,  p.  271. 


Family  7.  Tanagridoe. — Tanagers  (Fig.  48). 
Length  about  7*00 ;  the  males  of  our  species  mostly  red  ; 
bill  finchlike,  but  less  conical,  somewhat  swollen,  the 
outline  of  the  upper  mandible  curved,  its  sides  v/ith  a 
slight  but  generally  evident  "  tooth  "  near  the  middle ; 
tail-feathers  of  equal  length,  p.  316. 


Fig.  48. 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


53 


Family  8.  Hirandinidce. — Swallows  (Fig.  49) 
Bill  short  and  flattened,  much  wider 
than  high  at  the  base ;  no  bristles  at 
the  base  of  the  bill ;  wings  long  and 
pointed,  tips,  when  closed,  generally 
reaching  beyond  the  end  of  the  tail ; 
first  primary  the  longest ;  outer  tail- 
feathers  longest;  feet  small,  tarsus 
short,  round  in  front,  narrower  and 
sharper  in  the  back,  p,  318. 


Fig.  49. 


Family  9.   Ampelidce. — Waxwings 

(Fig.  50). 
Plumage  generally  soft,  brownish 
gray  or  grayish  brown ;  a  black 
band  across  the  forehead  and 
through  the  eyes ;  tail  tipped 
with  yellow;  bill  short,  notched 
at  the  tip;  head  conspicuously 
crested,  p.  323. 


Fig.  50. 


Family  10.  Laniidce. — Shrikes  (Fig.  51). 

Grayish  birds,  8-00-9-00  in  length,  most  of  the 
tail-feathers  tipped  with  white;  bill  hooked  and 
hawklike,  p.  325. 


Family  11.  Vireonidce. — Vireos  (Fig.  52) 
Small  birds,  5-00- 
7'00  in  length,  with 
generally  olive- 
green  backs  ;  tail- 
.,,.  feathers        without 

^^    7  white    spots ;     bill 

rather  stout,  higher 
than  broad  at  the 
base,  the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible 
notched  and  hooked,  bristles  at  the 
base  of  the  bill  barely  evident ;  tarsi 
scaled,  round  in  front,  narrower  and 
sharper  behind ;  toes  united  at  the 
base,  p.  327. 

Family  12.    Mniotiltidce. — Wood  War- 
blers (Fig.  53). 
Small  birds,  length  generally  under 
6-00,    but   in   four    species    6-50-7'50, 
with,    as    a    rule,    brightly    colored 


Fig.  52. 


54 


KEY  TO   FAMILIES. 


plumage,  olive-green  or  yellow  being  the  most  frequent ;  bill  various,  never 
notched  at  the  tip,  usually  slender  and  sharply  pointed,  without  conspicuous 
bristles,  but  sometimes  flattened  and  broader  than  high  at  the  base,  when 
the  bristles  are  evident  (thus  resembling  the  bill  of  a  true  Flyeatcher,  but 
the  back  of  the  tarsus  is  always  thin  and  narrow,  and  never  rounded  as  in 
front) ;  rarely  the  bill  is  heavier,  more  thrushlike  or  linchlike ;  second  or 
third  primary  longest,  the  first  little  if  any  shorter ;  tail  generally  square, 
sometimes  rounded,  the  outer  feathers  frequently  blotched  with  white, 
p.  333. 

Family  13.  MotacUUdce. — Wagtails 
and  Pipits  (Fig.  54). 
No  bristles  over  the  nostrils;  bill 
slender,  much  as  in  the  preceding ; 
hind  toe-nail  much  lengthened,  as 
long  as  or  longer  than  the  toe  ;  first 
three  primaries  of  equal  length, 
p.  375. 

Family  14.    Troglodytidce.  —  Thrash- 
ers, Wrens,  etc.  (Fig.  55). 
Subfamily     Mimince.  —  Thrashers, 
Mockingbirds,  and  Catbirds. 

Length   8'00-12-00  ;  tarsus  scaled ; 

tail  rounded,  the  outer  feathers  at 

least  half  an  inch  shorter  than  the 

middle  ones,  third  to  fifth  primary 

longest,  the  first  about  half  as  long, 

p.  376. 
Subfamily  Troglodytinoe. — Wrens. 

Length   4-00-6-00 ;    bill   moderate, 

the  upper  mandible  slightly  curved, 

no  bristles    at  its   base;  third  to 

fourth  primary  longest,  first  about 

half  as  long ;  tail  short  and  round- 
ed ;  brown  or  brownish  birds  with 

indistinctly  barred  wings  and  tail, 

p.  376. 


Family   15.     OertJdidoe. — Creepers    (Fig. 
56). 
Bill    slender    and   much   curved ;   tail- 
feathers  pointed  and  slightly  stiffened, 
p.  385. 


Fig.  56. 


KEY   TO   FAMILIES. 


55 


family  16.  Paridx. — Nuthatches  and  Titmice  (Fig.  57) 

Subfamily  SittincE. — Nuthatches. 
Bill  rather  long  and  slender,  the  end 
slightly  upward;  wings  long  and 
pointed,  the  third  or  fourth  primary 
the  longest,  the  first  very  small,  not 
an  inch  in  length ;  tail  short  i<,nd 
square,  the  outer  feathers  blotched 
with  white,  p.  386. 

Subfamily  ParincB. — Titmice. 
Length  4-50-6-50  ;  bill  short,  stout,  and 
rounded,  less  than  half  an  inch  in 
length  ;  fourth  or  fifth  primary  longest, 
first  very  short,  not  more  than  one 
third  as  long ;  tail  rather  long,  dull 
ashy  gray  without  white  blotches, 
p.  389. 


of  the  lower  mandible  slanting 


Fig.  57. 


Family  17.  Sylmidoi.  —  Kihglets  and 
Gnatcatchers  (Fig.  58). 
Length  3-50-5-00 ;  bill  slender,  re- 
sembling that  of  some  Warblers,  but 
the  first  primary  is  very  short,  only 
about  one  third  as  long  as  the  longest, 
p.  391. 


Fig.  58. 


Family     18.  Turdidce.  — 

Thrushes,  Bluebirds, 
etc.  (Fig.  59). 
Length  over  5-50 ;  bill  mod- 
erate, the  tip  of  the  upper 
mandible  notched ;  tarsus 
smooth,  the  scales,  if  any, 
fused  and  indistinct:  tail 
sQuare  ;  wings  long:  and 
pointed,  3*75  or  over,  third 
primary  the  longest,  the 
first  very  short,  less  than 
one  inch  in  length,  p.  394. 


Fig.  59. 


56  GREBES. 

OBDEB.  PYGOPODES.     DIVING  BIRDS. 

Family  Podicipid^.    Grebes. 

The  Grebes,  or  lobe-footed  divers,  number  about  thirty  species, 
distributed  throughout  the  world.  Six  species  are  found  in  North 
America.  Grebes  are  eminently  aquatic  birds,  and  rarely  if  ever  ven- 
ture upon  land,  where  they  are  almost  helpless.  The  marvelous  rapid- 
ity with  which  Grebes  dive,  and  the  ease  with  which  this  power  for- 
merly enabled  them  to  escape  the  shot  of  the  fowler,  have  won  for  them 
their  various  popular  names  of  "  Hell-diver,"  "  Water-witch,"  etc.  The 
cartridges  of  the  modern  breech-loader  do  not  give  the  warning  of  the 
discarded  flint-lock  or  percussion  cap,  and  "  to  dive  at  the  flash  "  is 
an  expression  which  now  has  lost  half  its  meaning.  Grebes  possess  the 
power  of  swimming  with  only  the  tip  of  the  bill  above  water,  a  habit 
which  accounts  for  many  mysterious  disappearances.  They  feed  largely 
on  fish,  which  they  pursue  and  catch  under  water,  progressing  by  aid 
of  the  feet  alone. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Depth  of  bill  at  nostril  over  '35. 

a.  Wing  over  6-00 2.  Holboell's  Grebe. 

b.  Wing  under  6-00 6.  Pied-billed  Grebe. 

B.  Depth  of  bill  at  nostril  less  than  -35 3.  Horned  Grebe. 

2»  Colymbus  holboBllii  (^6mA.).  Holbcell's  Grebe,  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Top  of  the  head,  small  crest,  and  back  of  the  neck,  glossy  black  ;  back 
blackish  ;  throat  and  sides  of  the  head  silvery  white ;  front  and  sides  of  the 
neck  rufous,  changing  gradually  over  the  breast  into  the  silvery  white  belly ; 
sides  tinged  with  rufous.  Ad.  in  winter. — Upper  parts  blackish  brown: 
throat  and  under  parts  whitish  ;  front  and  sides  of  the  neck  pale  rufous.  Im. 
— Upper  parts  blackish ;  throat  and  under  parts  silvery  white ;  neck  and 
sides  grayish.    L.,  19-00;  W.,  7-50;  Tar.,  2-20;  B.,  1-90, 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  interior  of  North  America,  from  northern  Minne- 
sota northward ;  in  winter  migrates  southward  as  far  as  South  Carolina  and 
Nebraska. 

Washington,  uncommon  W.  V.,  Sept.  30  to  Mch.  or  Apl.  Long  Island 
irregular  W,  V.,  (3ct.  to  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Oct.  to  Dec.  Cam- 
bridge, casual. 

Ned.,  a  mass  of  water-soaked,  decaying  vegetation  floating  among  rushes 
in  a  slough,  generally  attached  to  its  surroundings.  Eggs.,  two  to  five,  dull 
white,  more  or  less  soiled,  2*25  x  1-35. 

*•  In  common  with  others  of  the  family,  this  Grebe  is  an  expert 
diver.  Often  it  will  sink  into  the  water  without  any  apparent  effort, 
though  more  generally  it  Jumps  forward,  throwing  the  head  into  the 


^      .--1 
"&.0   , 

•■'«• 

-•» 

«. 

..^..fr-^T 

'*:€*'•  .' 

'/ 

PlED-BILLED    GrEBE    AND    YOUNG. 


GREBES.  57 

water  and  the  body  into  the  air.  It  is  an  expert  and  rapid  swimmer 
also,  and  all  its  movements  on  the  water  are  exceedingly  graceful. 
When  pursued,  these  birds  invariably  endeavor  to  escape  by  diving, 
though  when  on  the  wing  they  iiy  rapidly,  their  necks  and  feet 
stretched  at  full  length  "  (Chamberlain). 

3*  Colymbus  a<uritus  Linn.     Horned  Grebe.     Ad.  in  summer. — 

Top  of  the  head,  hind  neck,  and  throat,  glossy  blackish  ;  lores  pale  chestnut; 
stripe,  and  plumes  behind  the  eye,  bulfy  ochraceous,  deeper  posteriorly ;  back 
and  wings  blackish ;  secondaries  white ;  foreneck,  upper  breast,  and  sides 
chestnut ;  lower  breast  and  belly  white.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Upper  parts 
grayish  black  ;  under  parts  silvery  white,  sometimes  washed  with  grayish  on 
the  throat  and  breast.    L.,  13-50 ;  W.,  5-40 ;  Tar.,  1-75 ;  B.,  90. 

Bange. — Breeds  from  northern  United  States  (northern  Illinois,  St.  Clair 
Flats)  northward ;  winters  southward  to  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  fall  to  Apl.  25.  Long  Island,  abundant 
T.  v.,  rare  W.  V.,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Oct.  to  Dec. ;  Mch. 
Cambridge,  casual. 

Nest^  a  mass  of  water-soaked,  decaying  vegetation,  floating  among  rushes 
in  a  slough,  generally  attached  to  its  surroundings,  l^ggs,  two  to  seven,  dull 
white,  more  or  less  soiled,  1*74  x  1-15. 

This  species  and  the  next  are  probably  frequently  mistaken  for 
each  other  in  life,  and  the  same  common  names  are  in  some  instances 
applicable  to  both.  Mr.  Ernest  E.  Thompson  writes  of  a  captive  in- 
dividual :  "  When  ordinarily  swimming,  the  feet  strike  out  alternately, 
and  the  progression  is  steady ;  but  sometimes  both  feet  struck  together, 
and  then  the  movement  was  by  great  bounds,  and  was  evidently  cal- 
culated to  force  the  bird  over  an  expanse  of  very  weedy  water,  or 
through  any  tangle  of  weeds  or  rushes  in  which  it  might  have  found 
itself.  When  lifted  out  of  the  water,  the  feet  worked  so  fast  as  to  be 
lost  to  the  eye  in  a  mere  haze  of  many  shadowy  feet  with  one  attach- 
ment. When  placed  on  the  ground,  it  was  perfectly  helpless  "  (Birds 
of  Manitoba,  p.  466). 

6.  Podilymbus  podiceps  (Z*/?n-,).  Pied-billed  Grebe  ;  Dabchick; 
Diedapper;  Hell-diver;  Water-witch.  (See  Fig.  5,  a.)  Ad.  in  summer. — 
Upper  parts  glossy,  brownish  black;  throat  black;  upper  breast,  front  and 
sides  of  the  neck,  and  sides  of  the  body,  washed  with  brownish  and  indis- 
tmctly  mottled  with  blackish ;  lower  breast  and  belly  white ;  a  black  band 
across  the  bill.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Much  like  the  above,  but  throat 
white  and  no  black  band  on  the  bill.    L.  13-50 ;  W.,  5-10 ;  Tar.,  1-45 ;  B.,  85. 

Range. — Argentine  Eepublic  northward  through  Mexico  and  the  West  In- 
dies to  Hudson  Bay  and  Great  Slave  Lake,  breeding  locally  throughout  its 
range;  winters  from  New  Jersey  southward. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Aug.  25  to  Apl.  or  May.  Long  Island,  un- 
common T.  v.,  Sept.  to  Apl.     Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  6  to  Apl.  20; 


58  LOONS. 

Sept.  3  to  Oct.  28 ;  a  few  summer.     Cambridge,  T.  V.  in  Apl. ;  very  common 
Sept.  to  Nov. ;  breeds  in  one  locality. 

Nest^  a  mass  of  water-soaked,  decaying  vegetation,  sometimes  built  up 
from  the  bottom  in  shallow  water,  sometimes  floating  among  rushes  in  a  slough, 
when  it  is  generally  attached  to  its  surroundings.  -Eggs^  four  to  eight,  dull 
white,  more  or  less  soiled  or  stained,  1-74  x  1-19. 

This  is  probably  the  best  known  of  our  Grebes,  and  is  the  one  which 
most  frequently  tempts  the  shot  of  would-be  sportsmen.  Its  common 
names  may  stand  as  an  expression  of  its  aquatic  powers.  It  dives 
head  foremost,  or  sinks  slowly  beneath  the  water.  Like  other  Grebes, 
it  can  swim  easily  and  for  an  indefinite  period  with  only  its  bill  above 
the  water,  and  its  sometimes  mysterious  and  apparently  complete  dis- 
appearance is  explained  by  this  habit. 

Family  Urinatorid^.    Loons. 

A  family  containing  only  five  species,  inhabiting  the  northern  half 
of  the  northern  hemisphere.  The  Loons  are  scarcely  less  aquatic  than 
the  Grebes,  and  are  their  equals  as  divers  and  swimmers.  They  visit 
the  land  only  to  nest,  when  their  clumsy  progress  is  assisted  by  the 
use  of  bill  and  wings.  Their  food  consists  of  fish,  which  they  procure 
by  diving,  progressing  when  under  water  by  aid  of  the  feet  alone. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Throat  black. 

a.  Head  black 7.  Loon. 

d.  Head  ashy 9.  Black-throated  Loon. 

B.  Throat  gray,  foreneck  chestnut 11.  Eed-throated  Loon. 

0.  Throat  white  or  whitish ;  back  fuscous,  margined  with  grayish. 

a.  Wing  over  13*00 ;  base  of  bill  to  anterior  end  of  nostril  '75  or  over. 

7.  Loon  (Im.). 

b.  Wing  under  13*00 ;  base  of  bill  to  anterior  end  of  nostril  less  than  -75. 

9.  Black-throated  Loon  (Im.). 
D.  Throat  white  or  whitish ;  back  fuscous,  spotted  with  white. 

11.  Red-throated  Loon  (Im.), 

•?.  Urina;tor  imber  ( Gunn.).  Loon.  (See  Fig.  5,  h.)  Ad.  in  summer. 
— Upper  parts,  wings,  tail,  and  neck  black  with  bluish  or  greenish  reflections ; 
spaces  on  the  throat  and  sides  of  the  neck  streaked  with  white  ;  back  and 
wings  spotted  and  barred  with  white;  breast  and  belly  white;  sides  and  a 
band  at  the  base  of  the  under  tail-coverts  black  spotted  with  white.  Ad.  in 
winter  and  Im. — Upper  pans,  wings,  and  tail  blackish  margined  with  grayish 
not  spotted  with  white;  under  parts  white;  tliroat  sometimes  washed  with 
grayish.     L..  32-00 ;  W.,  14.00  ;  Tar.,  3-40  ;  B.,  2-80. 

Range. — Breeds  from  northern  Illinois,  Minnesota,  and  northern  New  Eng- 
land to  the  Arctic  Circle ;  winters  from  the  southern  limit  of  its  breeding 
range  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


LOONS.  59 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  Apl.  25.  Long  Island,  abundant  T, 
v.,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  June.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Oct. 
Cambridge,  not  common  T.  V,,  Apl.  to  early  May ;  Sept.  to  Nov. 

Nest^  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water. 
EggSy  two,  grayish  olive-brown,  thinly  spotted  with  blackish,  3-50  x  2*20. 

This  wild  inhabitant  of  our  northern  lakes  and  ponds  possesses  all 
the  characteristic  traits  of  the  Divers.  Its  remarkable  notes  are  thus 
described  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Langille : 

"  Beginning  on  the  fifth  note  of  the  scale,  the  voice  slides  through 
the  eighth  to  the  third  of  the  scale  above  in  loud,  clear,  sonorous  tones, 
which  on  a  dismal  evening  before  a  thunderstorm,  the  lightning  already 
playing  along  the  inky  sky,  are  anything  but  musical.  He  has  also 
another  rather  soft  and  pleasing  utterance,  sounding  like  who-who- 
who-who,  the  syllables  being  so  rapidly  pronounced  as  to  sound  almost 
like  a  shake  of  the  voice — a  sort  of  weird  laughter." 

Loons  may  be. seen  migrating  by  day  singly  or  in  small  companies, 
generally  at  a  considerable  height.  Their  flight  is  strong,  rapid,  and 
direct. 

9.  Urinator  a»rcticus  (Linn.).  Black-throated  Loon.  Ad.  in 
summer. — Throat,  foreneck,  back,  wings,  and  tail  black,  with  purplish  and 
bluish  reflections  ;  a  band  of  white  streaks  on  the  throat ;  sides  of  the  neck, 
back,  and  wings  streaked,  barred,  or  spotted  with  white ;  top  of  head  and 
nape  gray;  breast  and  belly  white ;  a  blackish  band  at  the  base  of  the  under 
tail-coverts.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Similar  in  color  to  If.  imber,  not  spotted 
above  with  white.     L.,  27-00  ;  W.,  11-00  :  Tar.,  2-60  ;  B.,  2-00. 

Remarks. — Immature  and  winter  birds  may  be  distinguished  from  the  cor- 
responding stage  of  imber  by  their  small  size ;  from  lum,me  by  grayish  mar- 
gins instead  of  white  spots,  bars,  or  margins  on  the  upper  parts. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere ;  in 
North  America  migrates  southward  in  winter  to  the  northern  United  States, 
casually  to  Ohio  and  Long  Island. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest.^  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water. 
Eggs.,  two,  grayish  olive-brown,  spotted  or  scrawled  with  blackish,  3-20  x  2-10. 

This  species  is  a  very  rare  winter  visitant  to  the  northern  border 
of  the  United  States.  The  most  southern  record  of  its  occurrence  is 
Long  Island  {Butchery  Auk,  x,  1893,  p.  265). 

11.  Urinaitor  lumme  {Gunn).  Ked-throated  Loon.  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Back,  wings,  and  tail  fuscous,  more  or  less  spotted  with  white ;  head 
and  neck  ashy  gray  ;  foreneck  chestnut ;  back  of  the  neck  black,  streaked  with 
white ;  breast  and  "belly  white ;  longer  under  tail-coverts  and  band  at  the  base 
of  shorter  ones  fuscous.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Similar  to  U.  imber^  but 
back  spotted  with  white.     L.,  25-00  ;  W.,  11-00 ;  Tar.,  2-60 ;  B.,  2-00. 

Range. — Found  throughout  the  northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere, 


60  AUKS,  MURRES,  AND  PUFFINS. 

breeding  in  North  America  from  New  Brunswick  and  Manitoba  northward, 
and  migrating  irregularly  southward  as  far  as  South  Carolina. 

Washington,  rare  W.  V.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  rare  W.  V.,  Oct,  to 
May.     Sing  Sing,  casual  T.  V.     Cambridge,  one  instance,  Oct. 

Nest^  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water. 
Eggs^  two,  grayish  olive-brown,  sometimes  tinged  with  green  and  spotted 
with  blackish,  2-80  x  1-75. 

This  is  a  more  northern  species  than  Urinator  imber,  which  it  doubt- 
less closely  resembles  in  habits. 

Family  Alcid^.    Auks,  Murres,  and  Puffins. 

This  family  contains  about  thirty  species,  confined  entirely  to  the 
northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  Nearly  all  of  these  are 
found  in  North  America,  most  of  them,  however,  on  only  our  Pacific 
coast.  Without  exception  they  are  maritime  birds,  passing  the  greater 
part  of  their  lives  on  the  open  sea.  They  nest  in  colonies,  sometimes 
in  enormous  numbers,  generally  upon  rocky,  precipitous  shores.  Their 
progress  on  land  is  slow  and  awkward ;  but  they  are,  as  a  rule,  strong 
fliers,  and  accomplished  swimmers  and  divers.  Unlike  the  Grebes  and 
Loons  they  use  their  wings  in  diving.  Their,  food  consists  of  fish, 
Crustacea,  and  other  forms  of  sea  life. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Bill  under  -75 34.  Dovekie. 

II.  Bill  over  -75. 

1.  Depth  of  bill  at  nostril  over  -60. 

a.  Bill  yellowish,  depth  at  nostril  over  TOO. 

13.  Puffin.     13a.  Laege-billed  Puffin. 

b.  Bill  black,  depth  at  nostril  under  1-00     .     .     32.  Razor-billed  Auk. 

2.  Depth  of  bill  at  nostril  under  -60. 

A.  Wing-coverts  white  or  tipped  with  white. 

a.  Greater  wing-coverts  entirely  white    .     28.  Mandt's  Guillemot. 

b.  Basal  half  of  greater  wing-coverts  black.    27.  Black  Guillemot. 
£.  No  white  on  wing-coverts. 

a.  Bill  over  1-60 30.  Murre. 

b.  Bill  under  1-60 31.  BBtJNNiCH's  Murre. 

13.  Fratercula  arctica  (Linn.).  Puffin  ;  Sea  Parrot  (see  Fig.  5,  c). 
Ad. — Upper  parts,  wings,  tail,  and  foreneck  blackish,  browner  on  the  head 
and  foreneck ;  nape  with  a  narrow  grayish  collar ;  sides  of  the  head  and  throat 
white,  sometimes  washed  with  grayish ;  breast  and  belly  white.  (Breeding 
birds  have  the  bill  larger  and  brighter,  and  a  horny  spine  over  the  eye.)  L., 
13-00;  W.,  6-10;  Tar.,  1-05;  B.,  1-85;  depth  of  B.  at  base  (in  winter),  1-50. 

Range. — "  Coasts  and  islands  of  the  North  Atlantic,  breeding  on  the  North 
American  coast  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy  northward"  (A.  O.  U.).  Migrates 
southward  in  winter,  rarely  to  Long  Island. 


AUKS,   MURRES,   AND  PUFFINS.  61 

Long  Island,  A.  V.  in  winter. 

ISfest  in  a  burrow  in  the  ground  or  in  crevices  among  rocks.  Egg,  one,  dull 
jv^hite,  sometimes  with  obscure  markings,  2*49  x  1-68. 

Mr.  Brewster,  in  describing  his  experience  with  this  species  in  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  writes :  "  The  first  report  of  our  guns  brought 
dozens  tumbling  from  their  nests.  Their  manner  of  descending  from 
the  higher  portions  of  the  cliff  was  peculiar.  Launching  into  the  air 
with  heads  depressed  and  wings  held  stiffly  at  a  sharp  angle  above  their 
backs,  they  would  shoot  down  like  meteors,  checking  their  speed  by  an 
upward  turn  just  before  reaching  the  water.  In  a  few  minutes  scores 
had  collected  about  us.  They  were  perfectly  silent  and  very  tame, 
passing  and  repassing  over  and  by  us,  often  coming  within  ten  or  fif- 
teen yards.  On  such  occasions  their  flight  has  a  curious  resemblance 
to  that  of  a  Woodcock,  but  when  coming  in  from  the  fishing  grounds 
they  skim  close  to  the  waves,  and  the  wings  are  moved  more  in  the 
manner  of  a  Duck  "  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  xxii,  1883,  p.  407). 

13a<.  F,  a>.  j^la.cia;lis  {Temm.).  Large-billed  Puffin. — Similar  to 
the  preceding,  but  larger.     W.,  6'80-7-40 ;  B.,  2-00-2-30  (B.,  B.,  and  E.). 

Range. — ■'' Coast  and  islands  of  the  Arctic  Ocean  from  Spitzbergen  to 
Baffin's  Bay"  (A.  0.  U.). 

The  Tufted  Puffin  {12.  Lunda  cirrhata)  inhabits  the  North  Pacific  from 
California  to  Alaska.  The  specimen  figured  by  Audubon  was  said  by  him 
to  have  been  procured  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  Eiver,  Maine.  There  is 
no  other  record  of  its  occurrence  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

S*?.  Cepphus  grylle  {Linn.).  Black  Guillemot  ;  Sea  Pigeon.  Ad. 
in  summer. — Sooty  black,  lighter  below  and  with  slight  greenish  reflections 
above ;  lesser  wing-coverts  and  terminal  half  of  the  greater  wing-coverts 
white,  the  basal  half  of  the  greater  coverts  black  ;  linings  of  the  wings  white. 
Ad.  in  winter. — Upper  parts  gray  or  black,  the  feathers  all  more  or  less  tipped 
with  white;  wings  as  in  summer;  under  parts  white  Im. — Upper  parts  as 
in  winter  adults ;  under  parts  white,  mottled  with  black ;  wing-coverts  tipped 
with  black.    L.,  13-00 ;  W.,  6-25 ;  Tar.,  1-25 ;  B.,  1-20. 

Range.— ^XQ^di's,  in  North  America  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy  (Grand  Menan) 
northward,  and  migrates  southward  regularly  to  Cape  Cod,  and  rarely  to  Con- 
necticut and  Long  Island ;  accidental  in  Pennsylvania. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.  in  winter. 

Nest.^  in  the  crevices  and  fissures  of  cliffs  and  rocky  places.  Eggs.,  two  to 
three,  dull  white,  sometimes  with  a  greenish  tinge,  more  or  less  heavily 
spotted  with  clear  and  obscure  dark  chocolate  markings,  more  numerous  and 
sometimes  confluent  at  the  larger  end.     2-18  x  1-40. 

"They  were  wary  and  alert,  but  allowed  me  to  paddle  within  easy 
shooting  distance  without  displaying  much  alarm.  When  they  finally 
concluded  I  was  an  unsafe  neighbor,  they  lost  no  time  in  getting  out 
of  sight,  diving  with  surprising  suddenness.     They  usually  swam  a 


52  AUKS,   MUKRES,   AND   PUFFINS. 

long  distance  under  water  with  great  rapidity,  using  their  wings  as 
well  as  their  feet,  and  coming  to  the  surface  far  beyond  gunshot 
range. 

"  The  Sea  Pigeons  are  met  usually  in  small  flocks  of  half  a  dozen 
or  more,  and  generally  feed  in  the  open  sea  at  the  base  of  bold  cliffs. 
When  on  the  wing  they  proceed  rapidly  and  in  a  straight  line,  and 
rarely  more  than  a  few  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  water.  On  ap- 
proaching their  nesting-site  they  rise  rather  abruptly,  and  fly  directly 
to  their  nests"  (Chamberlain). 

28.  Cepphus  maudtii  {LicM.).  Mandt's  Guillemot. — Resembles 
the  preceding,  but  the  bases  of  the  greater  wing-coverts  are  white  instead  of 
black. 

Range. — ■"  Arctic  regions  of  both  continents "  (A.  O.  U.) ;  in  America 
breeding  from  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay  northward,  migrating  southward 
as  far  as  Massachusetts. 

Nest.,  in  crevices  and  fissures  of  clifi's  and  rocky  places.  Eggs.,  two  to  three, 
not  distinguishable  from  those  of  G.  grylle.,  2-84  x  1-15. 

A  more  northern  species  than  the  preceding,  which  it  doubtless  re- 
sembles in  habits. 

30.  Uria  troile  (Linn.).  Murre.  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts, 
wings,  tail,  and  neck  all  around,  dark  sooty  brown,  blacker  on  the  back, 
wings,  and  tail ;  tips  of  secondaries,  breast,  and  belly  white,  the  sides  more 
or  less  streaked  with  blackish.  Ad.  in  ivinter  and  Im. — Upper  parts,  wings, 
and  tail  much  as  in  summer;  under  parts  white,  the  throat  more  or  less 
washed  with  sooty  brown,  the  flanks  sometimes  streaked  with  brownish,  and 
the  feathers  of  the  belly  more  or  less  lightly  margined  with  blackish.  L., 
16-00;  W.,  8-00;  Tar.,  1-40;  B.,  1-75;  depth  of  B.  at  nostril,  -50. 

RemarJcs. — Some  specimens  have  a  white  ring  around  the  e^^e  and  a  white 
stripe  behind  it.  They  have  been  named  U.  ringvia  (Briinn.),  but  it  is  un- 
certain as  to  whether  the  species  is  a  distinct  one  or  is  based  on  a  mere  varia- 
tion of  plumage. 

Range. — "  Coasts  and  islands  of  the  North  Atlantic"  (A.  0.  U.).  In  North 
America,  breeding  from  Nova  Scotia  northward,  and  migrating  southward  as 
far  as  Massachusetts. 

Neds  in  communities,  side  by  side  on  the  bare  ledges  of  rocky  cliffs.  Egg.^ 
one,  pyriform,  varying  from  pale  blue  or  greenish  blue  to  whitish  or  buffy 
singularly  spotted,  scrawled,  or  streaked  with  shades  of  chocolate,  rarely  un- 
marked, 3-25  X  2-00. 

"  These  birds  begin  to  assemble  on  their  customary  cliffs  in  Eng- 
land early  in  May,  and  crowd  together  in  such  numbers  that  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  see  hundreds  sitting  upon  their  eggs  on  the  ledge  of  a 
rock,  all  in  a  line,  and  nearly  touching  each  other"  (Nuttall). 

"  The  bird  usually  sits  facing  the  cliff,  holding  the  ^^%  between  her 
legs,  with  its  point  outward ;  if  robbed,  she  will  lay  at  least  one  more, 


AUKS,   MURRES,  AND  PUFFINS.  63 

similar  in  character.  .  .  .  Considerable  force  is  exercised  in  diving, 
and  the  wings  are  used  for  propulsion  under  water  "  (Saunders). 

31*  Uria  lomvia  {Linn.).  BrUnnich's  Muere.  Ad.  in  summer. — 
Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  sooty  black,  foreneck  somewhat  browner;  tips  ot 
secondaries,  breast,  and  belly  white ;  base  of  the  upper  mandible  greenish, 
rounded  outward  beyond  the  edge  of  the  lower  mandible.  L.,  16*50  ;  W., 
8-40 ;  Tar.,  1--S0  ;  B.,  1-25  ;  depth  of  B.  at  nostril,  -47. 

Retnarlcs. — xldults  are  to  be  distinguished  from  adults  of  TT.  troile  by  the 
darker  color  of  the  head,  which  in  lomvia  is  darker  than  the  throat,  by  the 
size  of  tlie  bill  and  thickening  of  its  cutting  edge  at  the  base.  Winter  and 
immature  birds  can  be  distinguished  from  those  of  U.  troile  only  by  the  size 
of  the  bill,  which,  as  the  measurements  show,  is  longer  in  that  species. 

Range. — "  Coasts  and  islands  of  the  North  Atlantic  and  eastern  Arctic 
Oceans  "  (A.  0.  U.).  Breeds  from  the  Magdalen  Islands  northward ;  in  win- 
ter migrates  as  far  south  as  New  Jersey. 

Long  Island,  irregular  W.  V.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Hests  in  communities,  side  by  side  on  the  bare  ledges  of  rocky  clift's.  Egg., 
one,  not  distinguishable  from  that  of  U.  troile. 

"  During  the  winter  it  lives  on  the  open  sea,  and  in  the  breeding 
season  assembles  in  large  flocks  on  bold  cliffs  and  rocky  headlands. 
It  is  an  expert  diver,  using  wings  and  feet  to  get  under  water  and  to 
swim  through  it "  (Chamberlain). 

3S*  Alca  torda  Linn.  Kazor-billed  Auk  ;  Tinker.  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  sooty  black ;  foreneck  somewhat  browner ; 
tips  of  the  secondaries,  a  line  from  the  eye  to  the  bill,  breast,  and  belly  white ; 
bill  black,  crossed  by  a  white  band.  Ad.  in  ivinter. — Similar  to  ad.  in  the 
summer,  but  with  the  sides  and  front  of  the  neck  white.  Jm. — Similar  to  ad. 
in  winter,  but  with  the  bill  smaller  and  without  the  white  bar.  L.-  16-50; 
W.,  Y-90;  Tar.,  1-35;  B.,  1-25. 

Range.— '•'•  Coasts  and  islands  of  the  North  Atlantic"  (A.  O.  IT.).  Breeds 
from  the  Magdalen  Islands  northward ;  in  winter  migrates  southward  regu- 
larly to  Long  Island  and  rarely  to  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

Long  Island,  irregular  W.  V. 

Nest.,  in  the  crevices  and  fissures  of  cliffs  and  rocky  places.  Eggs.,  one  to 
two,  pale  bluish  white  or  buffy,  thickly  spotted  and  speckled  with  chocolate 
markings  most  numerous  and  sometimes  confluent  at  the  larger  end,  3-00  x  1-90. 

"  When  brooding,  it  crouches  along,  not  across,  the  ^%g,  its  mate 
often  standing  near ;  and  both  sexes  incubate,  though  the  male  may 
be  seen  bringing  food  to  the  sitting  female.  .  .  .  The  young  flutter 
from  the  rocks  to  the  sea,  or  are  taken  by  the  neck  and  carried  down 
by  the  parents.  They  are  at  first  very  loath  to  follow  the  old  bird  in 
diving,  and  remain  ci'ying  plaintively  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 
The  food  consists  of  small  fish,  which  are  carried  diagonally  in  the  bill 
= — not  at  right  angles,  as  by  the  Puffin — and  crustaceans.     The  Razor- 


64  AUKS,   MURRES,   AND   PUFFINS. 

bill  utters  a  peculiar  grunting  or  groaning,  especially  when  sitting. 
On  the  water  it  may  be  distinguished  from  the  Guillemot,  at  a  dis- 
tance, by  its  upturned  tail "  (Saunders). 

33*  Plautus  impennis  {Linn.).  Gbeat  Auk. — Upper  parts  fuscous 
black,  a  large  white  spot  before  the  eye ;  secondaries  tipped  with  white  ;  sides 
of  the  neck  and  throat  seal-brown,  rest  of  the  under  parts  silvery  white.  L., 
28-00-30-00  ;  W.,  5-75  ;  B.,  3-15-3-50 ;  greatest  depth  of  B.,  1-50  (Eidgw.). 

Range. — "Formerly  the  coasts  and  islands  of  the  j^orth  Atlantic,  from 
Massachusetts  and  Ireland  northward  nearly  to  the  Arctic  Circle  "  (A.  O.  U.). 
Now  extinct. 

Egg^  pyriform-ovate,  pale  olive  buflfy,  variously  marked  with  brown  and 
black,  4-67  x  2-91  (Eidgw.). 

The  Great  Auk  was  flightless.  Like  other  birds  of  this  family,  it 
frequented  certain  localities  in  large  numbers  each  year  to  breed. 
Early  voyagers  and  fishermen  visited  its  nesting  grounds,  killing  the 
helpless  birds  in  enormous  numbers  for  their  flesh,  feathers,  and  oil. 
The  result  was  extinction,  and  no  living  Great  Auk  has  been  observed 
since  1842.  About  seventy  specimens  are  known  to  be  preserved  in 
collections.     (See  Lucas,  Rep.  Smith.  Inst.,  1891,  pp.  638-641.) 

34.  Alle  adle  {Linn.).  Dovekie  ;  Sea  Dove.  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper 
parts,  wings,  and  tail  sooty  black  ;  sides  and  front  of  the  neck  and  upper 
breast  somewhat  browner;  secondaries  tipped  and  scapulars  streaked  with 
white;  lower  breast  and  belly  white.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Similar  to  the 
above,  but  throat  whiter  or  washed  with  dusky,  and  sometimes  a  gray  collar 
on  the  nape.    L.,  8-00 ;  W.,  4-50 ;  Tar.,  -70;  B.,  -50. 

Eange. — "  Coasts  and  islands  of  the  North  Atlantic  and  eastern  Arctic 
Oceans  "  (A.  O.  U.).  Breeds  from  latitude  69°  northward  ;  in  winter  migrates 
southward,  rarely  to  Long  Island  and  New  Jersey  ;  accidental  in  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Virginia. 

Long  Island,  irregular  W.  V.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Mst.,  on  the  ledges  and  in  the  crevices  of  rocky  cliffs.  Egg.,  one,  pale 
bluish  white,  1-85  x  1-27. 

"  On  the  approach  of  a  vessel  this  bird  has  a  peculiar  way  of  splash- 
ing along  the  surface  of  the  water,  as  if  unable  to  fly,  and  then  diving 
through  the  crest  of  an  advancing  wave ;  it  swims  rather  deep  and 
very  much  '  by  the  stern.'  .  .  ."  (Saunders). 

"  Its  wings  are  small,  but  they  are  moved  almost  as  rapidly  as  a 
Hummingbird's,  and  propel  the  bird  through  the  air  with  great  rapid- 
ity. This  bird  is  an  expert  diver  too,  and,  though  awkward  on  land, 
swims  with  ease  and  grace.  .  .  ."  (Chamberlain). 


JAEGERS  AND  SKUAS.  65 


ORDER    LONGIPENNES.     LONG- WINGED  SWIMMERS. 

Family  Stercorarud^.    Jaegers  and  Skuas. 

Two  of  the  six  known  members  of  this  family  are  found  in  the 
antarctic  regions,  while  the  remaining  four  inhabit  the  northern  parts 
of  the  northern  hemisphere.  Except  during  the  nesting  season,  ttie 
Jaegers  are  as  a  rule  pelagic,  though  they  sometimes  visit  large  bodies 
of  water  inland.  They  generally  obtain  their  food  by  robbing  Gulls 
and  Terns,  and  have  been  well  named  the  Hawks  of  the  sea.  Their 
greater  power  of  flight  enables  them  to  successfully  pursue  these  birds 
and  force  them  to  disgorge  their  recently  captured  prey. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

A.  Bill  over  1-35  ;  tarsus  over  1-70  ;  middle  tail-feathers  never  pointed. 

a.  Bill  over  1-90 35.  Skua. 

b.  Bill  under  1-90 36.  Pomarine  Jaeger. 

£.  Bill  under  1-35 ;  tarsus  under  1-70  ;  middle  tail-feathers  generally  pointed. 

a.  Scaly  shield  on  the  bill  longer  than  the  distance  from  its  end  to  the  tip 
of  the  bill 37.  Parasitic  Jaeger. 

b.  Scaly  shield  on  the  bill  shorter  than  the  distance  from  its  end  to  the  tip 
of  the  bill 38.  Long-tailed  Jaeger. 

35.  Megalestris  skua  {Brilnn.).  Skua.  Ad. — Upper  parts,  tail,  and 
wings  dark,  dirty  brown ;  shafts  of  the  wing  and  tail-feathers  white,  except 
at  the  tip ;  outer  wing-feathers  with  inner  vanes  white  at  the  base ;  under  parts 
somewhat  lighter;  neck  more  or  less  streaked  with  whitish.  Irn. — "  Similar 
to  adult,  but  more  distinctly  streaked  with  yellowish,  especially  on  the  head 
and  neck."    L.,  22-00  ;  W.,  15-91 ;  Tar.,  2-63  ;  B.,  2-06  (Kidgw.). 

Range.— "■  Coa&l  and  islands  of  the  North  Atlantic,  chiefly  northward. 
South  to  Spain  and  Massachusetts.  Apparently  rare  off  the  coast  of  North 
America"  (A.  0.  U.). 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest,  on  rocky  clifis.  Eggs,  two,  pale  olive-brown  or  greenish  gray  spot- 
ted with  chocolate,  2-80  x  1-90. 

36.  Stercorarius  pomarinus  {Temm.).  Pomarine  Jaeger.  Ad.., 
iigJit  phase.— Very  similar  in  color  to  corresponding  phase  of  ;S.  parasiticus., 
but  with  the  upper  parts  darker,  nearly  black.  Ad.,  darh  phase  and  Im.— 
Similar  in  color  to  corresponding  stages  of  S.  parasiticus.  L.,  22-00 ;  W., 
13-50;  T.,  Ad.,  8-00,  Im.,  5-40;  Tar.,  2-00;  B.,  1-55. 

Remarks. — This  species  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  two  following  bj 
its  larger  size  and  the  rounded  ends  of  its  central  tail-feathers. 

Range. — "  Kesident  during  the  summer  in  high  northern  latitudes,  chiefly 
within  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  extending  from  Siberia  in  eastern  Asia  entirely 
around  the  zone "  (B.,  B.,  and  E.).     Migrates  southward  along  the  Atlantis 


QQ  JAEGERS   AND   SKUAS. 

coast,  and  more  rarely  through  the  Great  Lakes,  and  winters  from  Long  Island 
southward. 

Long  Island,  regular  from  June  15  to  Oct.  30.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

JS^est,  on  the  ground.  J^ggs,  two  to  three,  deep  olive-drab  sparingly  spot- 
ted with  slate  color,  and  light  and  dark  raw-umber  markings  and  black  dots, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  where  they  become  confluent,  2-25  x  1-70  (Brewer). 

37.  Stercorarius  parasiticus  (Linn.).  Paeasitic  Jaeger  (see 
Fig.  6,  a).  Ad.^  light  phase. — Back,  wings,  and  tail  slaty  fuscous ;  top  of  the 
head  and  lores  nearly  black ;  sides  of  the  head  and  back  of  the  neck  straw- 
yellow,  this  color  sometimes  spreading  down  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  on 
the  throat;  breast  and  belly  white;  sides  of  the  breast,  flanks,  lower  belly, 
and  crissum  slaty  fuscous ;  tarsi  and  feet  (in  dried  specimens)  black ;  middle 
tail-feathers  pointed  and  extending  about  3-00  beyond  the  others.  Ad..,  darh 
phase. — Entire  plumage  dark,  slaty  brown,  darker  on  the  top  of  the  head ; 
under  parts  slightly  lighter;  sometimes  a  trace  of  straw-yellow  on  the  sides 
and  back  of  the  neck ;  tarsi,  feet,  and  tail  as  in  the  preceding,  /m.,  light 
phase. — Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  fuscous;  the  feathers  of  the  back,  neck, 
and  head  more  or  less  bordered,  tipped,  or  barred  with  bufiy ;  hind-neck  and 
head  sometimes  bufty,  streaked  or  barred  with  fuscous,  and  varying  from 
this  color  to  plain  fuscous ;  longer,  lateral  upper  tail-coverts  barred  with 
bufiy  ;  tail  bufiy,  whitish  at  the  base  ;  under  wing-coverts  barred  with  bufiy ; 
under  parts  white,  washed  with  bufiy,  and  irregularly  barred  with  sooty 
fuscous ;  these  bars  sometimes  very  numerous  when  the  under  parts  looked 
as  if  washed  with  sooty  fuscous ;  again,  they  may  be  less  numerous  and  con- 
fined to  the  breast  and  sides,  leaving  the  belly  white;  central  tail-feathers 
pointed,  projecting  more  or  less  beyond  the  rest.  /»i.,  darJc phase. — Sooty  fus- 
cous, the  feathers,  particularly  on  the  under  parts,  more  or  less  marked  with 
ochraceous-bufi".     L.,  17-00  ;  W.,  13-00 :  T.,  Ad.,  8-60,  Im.,  6-40 ;  B.,  1-15. 

Eemarlcs. — This  species  closely  resembles  S.  longicandus.  Adults  of  both 
species,  whether  in  the  dark  or  light  phase  of  plumage,  may  always  be  dis- 
tinguished from  each  other  by  the  difference  in  the  length  of  their  central 
tail-feathers,  in  addition  to  the  characters  given  in  the  key.  Young  birds 
can  not  be  distinguished  by  color,  but  may  be  identified  by  the  differences  in 
relative  proportions  of  the  bill. 

Range. — "  Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  southward  in  win- 
ter to  South  Africa  and  South  America"  (A.  O.  U.).  In  America  breeds 
in  the  Barren  Grounds  and  Greenland  ;  migrates  southward  through  the  Great 
Lakes  and  along  the  Atlantic  coasts,  and  winters  from  the  Middle  States 
southward. 

Long  Island,  regular  from  June  15  to  Oct.  30. 

Nest.,  on  the  moors  or  tundras,  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground  scantily 
lined  with  grasses,  etc.,  or  on  rocks  by  the  sea.  Eggs.,  two  to  four,  light  olive- 
brown,  with  frequently  a  strong  greenish  tinge  and  chocolate  markings,  more 
numerous  and  sometimes  confluent  at  the  larger  end,  2-25  x  1-65. 

38.  Stercorarius  longicaudus  Vieill.  Long-tailed  Jaegeb. 
Ad.,  light  phase. — Back,  wings,  and  tail  slaty  fuscous;  top  of  head  and  lores 
nearly  black;  sides  of  the  head,  back  and  sides  of  the  neck  straw-yellowy 


GULLS.  67 

throat  sometimes  wasAed  with  the  same  color ;  under  parts  white  ;  sides, 
lower  belly,  and  crissum  slaty  fuscous ;  central  tail-feathers  extending  about 
7"00  beyond  the  others,  the  projecting  ends  narrow  and  pointed.  (No  dark 
phase  of  this  species  has  been  described.)  Im. — Similar  in  plumage  to  im. 
of  S.  parasiticus^  but  differing  otherwise  as  pointed  out  under  that  species. 
L.,  21-00  ;  W.,  12-50  ;  T.,  Ad.,  12-00,  Im.,  5-50  ;  B.,  1-08. 

Range. — Northern  part  of  the  northern  hemisphere;  in  America  nests 
in  Greenland  and  quite  abundantly  "  along  the  Anderson,  in  the  '  Ban-ens,' 
and  also  on  the  arctic  coast"  (Macfarlane) ;  migrates  southward  along  the 
coasts,  and  rarely  through  the  Great  Lakes,  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  West 
Indies. 

Nest^  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground,  sometimes  scantily  lined  with 
grasses.  Eggs^  two  to  three,  similar  in  color  to  those  of  the  preceding, 
2-10  X  1-50. 

Family  Larid^.    Gulls  and  Terns. 

This  family  contains  about  one  hundred  species  divided  equally 
between  the  subfamily  Larinm  (Gulls)  and  subfamily  Stemmm  (Terns). 
They  are  distributed  throughout  the  world.  Some  forty  species  in- 
habit North  America.  With  few  exceptions  they  agree  in  possessing 
the  marked  characters  of  their  respective  subfamilies,  under  which 
they  may  be  more  conveniently  treated. 

Subfamily  Larince.     Gulls. 

Generally  speaking,  Gulls  are  maritime  and  pelagic,  though  some 
species  are  found  inland.  As  compared  with  Terns,  Gulls  are  less 
graceful  and  active  on  the  wing.  In  flight  the  bill  points  forward  in 
the  plane  of  the  body,  not  downward  toward  the  earth,  as  in  the  Terns. 
They  procure  their  food  largely  by  picking  it  from  the  surface  of  the 
water  or  land  with  their  strongly  hooked  bills,  not  by  plunging  or 
darting,  as  do  the  Terns.  Some  of  the  species  are  true  birds  of  prey, 
and  feed  on  small  mammals  and  the  eggs  and  young  of  other  birds. 
Gulls  are  better  swimmers  than  Terns,  and  pass  much  time  resting  on 
the  water.  They  nest  in  colonies,  generally  on  the  ground,  sometimes 
on  rocky  ledges,  and  rarely  in  trees. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

L  Wing  over  15-00. 

A.  Back  dark  slaty  black 47.  Black-backed  Gull. 

£.  Back  pearl-gray. 
a.  Outer  primaries  marked  with  black. 

51a.  Am.  Herring  Gull.     51.  Herring  Gull. 
h.  No  black  on  primaries. 
b\  Bill  under  2-00. 

h*.  Primaries  light  pearl-gray,  fading  gradually  into  white  at  their 
tips 43.  Iceland  Gull. 


68  GULLS. 

J8.  Primaries  pearl-gray,  tipped  with  white,  and  with  well-defined 
gray  spaces  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  two  outer  primaries  and  on 
both  webs  of  the  third  and  fourth  primaries. 

45.  Kumlien's  Gull. 

c^.  Bill  over  2-00 42.  Glaucous  Gull. 

C.  Back  grayish,  whitish,  or  brownish,  or  mottled  or  spotted  with  gray- 
ish or  brownish. 

a.  Tail  black  or  blackish,  with  or  without  irregular  white  markings. 
o».  Wing  over  17*50 ;  depth  of  bill  at  nostril  over  -70. 

47.  Black-backed  Gull  (Im.). 
a^.  Wing  under  17"50  ;  depth  of  bill  at  nostril  under  "70. 

51a.  Am.  Hekring  Gull  (Im.).     51.  Herring  Gull  (Im.). 

b.  Tail  white  or  whitish  or  grayish   brown,  with  or  without   black 
markings. 

&i.  Bill  under  2-00 43.  Iceland  Gull  (Im.). 

b^.  Bill  over  2-00 42.  Glaucous  Gull  (Im.). 

II.  Wing  under  15-00. 

1.  Tail  pure  white. 

A.  Head  and  throat  slaty  black. 
a.  Outer  primary  black  or  mostly  black, 
ai.  Outer  primary  entirely  black      ....    58.  Laughing  Gull. 
a>.  Inner  half  of  inner  webs  of  first  primary  white. 

62.  Sabine's  Gull. 
6.  Outer  primary  mostly  white. 

b^.  Tip  of  first  primary  white 59.  Franklin's  Gull. 

b^.  Tip  of  first  primary  black 60.  Bonaparte's  Gull. 

£.  Head  white,  sometimes  washed  with  pearl-gray. 

a.  Wings  white 39.  Ivory  Gull. 

b.  Primaries  with  more  or  less  black. 
bh  Wing  over  11-00. 

&2.  Hind  toe  very  small,  without  a  nail     ...      40.  Kittiwake. 

b^.  Hind  toe  normal,  with  a  nail  ...     54.  Eing-billed  Gull. 

c^.  Wing  under  ll'OO 61.  Boss's  Gull. 

2.  Tail  marked  with  black. 

A.  Wing  over  13"25. 

a.  Primaries  mostly  white 89.  Ivory  Gull  (Im.). 

b.  Primaries  black  or  mostly  black    .    54.  Eing-billed  Gull  (Im.). 

B.  Wing  under  13-25. 

a.  Hind  toe  very  small,  without  a  nail   ...    40.  Kittiwake  (Im.). 

b.  Hind  toe  normal,  with  a  nail. 

R  Tarsus  1-50  or  over 58.  Laughing  Gull  (Im.). 

cK  Tarsus  under  1-50. 
d*.  Secondaries  pearl  color,  tail  square. 

60.  Bonaparte's  Gull  (Im.). 
c3.  Secondaries  mostly  white,  tail  rounded. 

61.  Boss's  Gull  (Im.). 

39>  Gavia  alba  (Gunn.).     Ivory  Gull.     Ad. — Entire  plumage  pure 
white;  bill  yellow,  feet  black.    Im. — Similar  to  ad.,  but  the  wing  and  tail 


GULLS. 


69 


feathers,  and  sometimes  the  wing-coverts,  with  a  black  spot  at  their  tips.  L., 
17-00;  W.,  13-25;  T.,  5-50;  B.,  1-35. 

Range. — "Arctic  seas,  south  in  winter  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  North 
America  to  Labrador  and  Newfoundland,  casually  to  New  Brunswick,  and  on 
the  Pacific  side  to  Bering  Sea  "  (A.  0.  U.). 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest^i  of  grass,  moss,  and  feathers  on  rocky  cliffs.  Eggs.^  light  yellowish 
olive,  marked  with  small  blotches  of  brown  and  larger  cloudings  of  lilac, 
2-45  X  1-70  (Brewer). 

"  The  Ivory  Gulls  appear  to  spend  most  of  the  time  amid  the  pack- 
ice,  often  at  a  long  distance  from  land "  (Chamberlain). 


Fig.  60.— First  primaries  of  adult  Gulls,  seen  from  below :  (a)  Am.  Herring 
Gull ;  (6)  Ring-billed  Gull  ;  (c)  Laughing  Gull  ;  (d)  Franklin^s  Gull ;  (e)  Bona- 
parte's Gull. 

40.  Rissai  trida/Ctyla;  {Linn.).  Kittiwake.  Ad.  in  summer. — Head, 
neck,  tail,  and  under  part§  pure  white ;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray ;  outer 
web  of  first  primary  and  3*00  of  the  ends  of  first  and  second  primaries  black ; 


70  GULLS. 

third  to  fifth  primaries  black  at  the  ends  and  with  white  tips ;  hind  toe  very 
small,  a  mere  hnob  without  a  iiail  /  bill  yellowish,  feet  black.  Ad.  in  winter. 
— Similar  to  above,  but  the  top  of  the  head  and  back  of  the  neck  washed  with 
pearl-gray,  and  a  dark  spot  about  the  eye.  Im. — Similar  to  winter  adults, 
but  with  the  back  of  the  neck,  lesser  wing-coverts,  and  part  of  the  tertials 
black ;  tail,  except  outer  pair  of  feathers,  with  a  black  band  at  its  tip ;  four 
outer  primaries  black,  except  the  inner  half  or  more  of  their  inner  webs ;  fifth ' 
apd  sixth  tipped  with  black  and  white ;  bill  black,  feet  yellowish.  L.,  16*00 ; 
W.,  12-00;  T.,  4-50;  B.,  1-30. 

Memarhs. — This  species  can  always  be  distinguished  by  the  small  size  of 
the  hind  toe. 

Range. — Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere  ;  in  America,  breed- 
ing commonly  from  the  Magdalen  Islands  northward,  and  wintering  as  far 
soutli  as  the  Great  Lakes  in  the  interior,  and,  on  the  coast,  commonly  to  Long 
Island,  and  rarely  to  Virginia. 

Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  a  few  v/inter,  Nov.  to  Mch. 

liest.,  of  grass,  moss,  and  seaweed  on  the  ledges  of  rocky  cliffs.  Eggs., 
three  to  four,  varying  from  shades  of  buffy  to  grayish  brown,  distinctly  and 
obscurely  marked  with  chocolate,  2-25  x  1-60. 

"  Our  bird  differs  but  little  in  its  habits  from  other  oceanic  Gulls. 
Feeding  chiefly  on  fish,  but  accepting  any  diet  that  drifts  within  range 
of  its  keen  sight ;  drinking  salt  water  in  preference  to  fresh ;  breasting 
a  gale  with  ease  and  grace — soaring  in  midair,  skimming  close  above 
the  crested  waves,  or  swooping  into  the  trough  for  a  coveted  morsel ; 
resting  upon  the  rolling  billows,  and  sleeping  serenely  as  they  roll, 
with  head  tucked  snugly  under  a  wing;  wandering  in  loose  flocks, 
and  making  comrades  of  other  wanderers ;  devoted  to  mate  and  young, 
and  attached  to  all  its  kin — wherever  seen  or  however  employed,  the 
Kittiwake  is  revealed  as  a  typical  gleaner  of  the  sea. 

"  The  name  is  derived  from  the  bird's  singular  cry,  which  resembles 
the  syllables  kitti-aa,  hitti-aa  "  (Chamberlain). 

42.  Larus  glaucus  Brunn.     Glaucous  Gull  ;  Burgomasteb.     Ad. 

in  summer.— Back  and  wings  pale  pearl -gray ;  primaries  lightly  tinted  with 
pearl,  inner  half  of  their  inner  webs  and  tips  fading  gradually  into  white ; 
rest  of  the  plumage  pure  white.  Ad.  in  winter.— Similar  to  the  above,  but 
with  the  head  and  neck  lightly  streaked  with  grayish,  /w.— Upper  parts 
varying  from  ashy  gray  to  white,  the  feathers  widely  barred,  mottled,  or 
streaked  with  bufty  or  ashy  gray ;  primaries  varying  from  pale  smoky  gray 
to  pure  wliite ;  tail  ashy  or  brownish  gray ;  under  parts  varying  from  dirty 
whitish  to  ashy  gray,  generally  darker  on  the  belly,  sometimes  mottled  with 
buffy  or  grayish.  (Birds  of  the  second  year  are  said  to  be  pure  white.)  L., 
28-00 ;  W.,  17-10 ;  B.,  2-35 ;  depth  of  B.  at  projection  on  the  lower  mandible, 
•75  to  1-00  ;  Tar.,  2-60. 

7?a/?^^.— Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere;  in  North  America 
breeding  commonly  from  southern  Labrador  northward  and  migrating  south- 
ward to  the  Great  Lakes  and  Long  Island. 


GULLS.  71 

Long  Island,  irregular  W.  V. 

Nest^  of  grasses,  moss,  etc.,  on  the  ground.  Eggs^  two  to  three,  varying 
from  pale  olive-brown  to  grayish  white,  spotted  or  speckled  with  shades  of 
chocolate,  3-10  x  2-20. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  remarks  that  this  species  combines  "  with  some 
gull-like  traits  many  of  the  coarse  characteristics  of  both  Falcon  and 
Vulture." 

"  Some  observers  have  reported  that  flocks  are  at  times  very  noisy, 
particularly  when  settling  for  the  night ;  but  those  I  have  met  with  in 
winter  have  been  rather  silent.  Their  cry  is  harsh  and  at  times  very 
loud ;  it  sounds  something  like  the  syllables  Tcuk-lak.  I  have  seen  it 
written  cut-leek.''^ 

43*  liarus  leucopterus  Faber.  Iceland  Gull.  Eesembles  the 
preceding  species  in  color,  but  generally  is  much  smaller ;  specimens  occur, 
however,  which  appear  to  be  intermediate.  W.,  15-40-16-50;  B.,  1-65-1-90; 
depth  of  B.  at  projection  on  the  lower  mandible,  •60--70 ;  Tar.,  2-05-2-20  (B., 
B.,  and  R.). 

Range. — Arctic  regions ;  in  North  America  migrates  south  in  winter, 
rarely  to  Long  Island. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.  in  winter. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  moss,  etc.,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  clay-color  with  numerous 
chocolate  markings,  2-79  x  1-89. 

"  The  flight  of  the  Iceland  Gull,  its  feeding  habits,  and  its  manners 
generally,  suggest  a  close  affinity  to  the  Herring  Gull  rather  than  to 
the  Burgomaster  "  (Chamberlain). 

45*  liarus  kumlieni  Brewst.  Kcmlien's  Gull.  Very  similar  in  gen- 
eral color  to  the  two  preceding  species,  but  diifers  from  them  in  the  color  of 
the  primaries.  These,  instead  of  being  uniformly  pure  white  or  but  lightly 
tinted  with  gray,  are  marked  with  sharply  defined  spaces  of  ashy  gray.  The 
first  primary  is  tipped  with  white  and  marked  with  ashy  gray  on  the  outer 
web  and  shaft  part  of  the  inner  web  ;  the  second  primary  is  ashy  gray  on  only 
part  of  the  outer  web ;  the  third  and  fourth  primaries  have  smaller  white 
tips  and  are  marked  with  ashy  gray  near  their  ends  on  both  webs.  W.,  15-50- 
17"00  ;  B.,  1*65-1'88 ;  depth  of  B.  at  projection  on  the  lower  mandible,  -eO-ee  ; 
Tar.,  2-10-2-35  (Brewster). 

Range. — North  Atlantic  coast  of  North  America;  south  in  winter  to 
Massachusetts. 

Nest.,  on  "  the  shelving  rocks  of  high  cliiffs." 

"  Mr.  Kumlien  found  this  bird  breeding  in  considerable  numbers 
near  the  head  of  Cumberland  Gulf,"  but,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of 
distinguishing  immature  specimens  from  those  of  L.  leucopterus,  its 
status  on  our  coast  in  winter  is  not  clearly  determined. 

47.  Liarus  marinus  Linn.  Great  Black-backed  Gull  ;  Saddle- 
back.   Ad.  in  summer.— ^s^dk  and  wings  slaty  black ;  wing-feathers  tipped 


72  GULLS. 

with  white  ;  rest  of  plumage  white  ;  tail  sometimes  mottled  with  dusky.  Ad. 
in  winter.— Similar  to  the  above,  but  with  the  head  and  neck  streaked  with 
grayish,  /in.— Head  and  nape  whitish,  streaked  with  grayish;  back  and 
wings,  except  primaries,  brownish,  the  feathers  margined  and  irregularly 
marked  with  pale  bufty  ;  primaries  dark  brownish  black,  the  inner  ones  with 
small  white  tips ;  tail  mottled  with  black  and  white ;  under  parts  whitish, 
more  or  less  streaked  or  barred  with  grayish.  L.,  29-00;  W.,  18-50  ;  T.,  8-00  ; 
B.,  2-50. 

Range. — North  x\tlantic  ;  breeds  in  North  America  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy 
northward ;  migrates  southward  in  winter  regularly  to  the  Great  Lakes  and 
Virginia,  and  less  frequently  to  South  Carolina. 

Long  Island,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  Apl. 

I^est.^  of  grasses,  seaweed,  etc.,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  two  to  three,  clay- 
color,  brownish  ashy  or  bufiy,  rather  evenly  spotted  with  chocolate,  3-00  x  2-15. 

A  more  northern  species  than  the  Herring  Gull.  Mr.  Brewster, 
who  observed  it  in  numbers  in  the  island  of  Anticosti  in  July,  writes : 

"  The  Black-backs  are  exceedingly  noisy  birds,  especially  when  their 
young  are  in  danger,  as  well  as  toward  evening.  ...  I  identified  four 
distinct  cries :  a  braying  ha-ha-ha,  a  deep  keow,  keoiv,  a  short  barking 
note,  and  a  long-drawn  groan,  very  loud  and  decidedly  impressive.  .  .  . 
At  all  times  of  the  year,  during  the  breeding  season  as  well  as  in  win- 
ter, it  is  by  far  the  wariest  bird  that  I  have  ever  met." 

The  Siberian  Gull  (50.  Lams  affinis) — a  large  Gull  inhabiting  north- 
ern Asia — is  sometimes  found  in  Greenland. 

51a.  Larus  argentatus  smithsonianus  Cmies.  American  Her- 
ring Gull.  Ad.  in  summer. — Back  and  wings  deep  pearl-gray  ;  first  primary 
tipped  with  white,  then  crossed  by  a  small  black  mark,  then  a  much  larger 
white  one ;  this  is  followed  by  a  black  space ;  the  black  runs  down  the  outer 
web  of  the  feather  to  near  its  base  and  the  shaft  part  of  the  inner  web 
nearly  as  far,  leaving  the  inner  two  thirds  of  the  web  below  the  black  mark 
white  (Fig.  60,  a) ;  the  second  primary  is  similar,  but  the  second  white  mark 
is  a  round  spot  on  the  inner  web  and  the  black  occupies  a  greater  space  near 
the  tip,  but  does  not  continue  so  far  down  on  the  feather ;  the  third  to  sixth 
primaries  are  tipped  with  white,  which  is  succeeded  by  a  gradually  dimin- 
ishing black  band  which  extends  farther  down  on  the  outer  web  of  the  feather 
than  on  the  inner;  the  rest  of  the  plumage  is  pure  white.  Ad.  in.  winter. — 
Similar  to  the  above,  but  with  the  head  and  neck  streaked  or  spotted  with 
grayish.  Im. — Upper  parts  ashy  fuscous ;  head  and  nape  more  or  less  streaked 
with  pale  huffy  ;  back  and  wings  margined  or  irregularly  marked  with  the 
same  color ;  primaries  brownish  black  ;  tail  the  same,  sometimes  tipped  or 
margined  with  huffy;  under  parts  ashy  fuscous,  sometimes  lightly  haired  or 
streaked.    L.,  24-00  ;  W.,  17-50  ;  T.,  7-50  ;  B.,  2-30. 

Range. — "  North  America  generally,  breeding  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from 
Maine  northward  "  (A.  O.  U.).  In  the  interior  breeds  from  Minnesota  north- 
ward ;  winters  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Cuba. 


GULLS.  73 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Oct.  to  Mch.  Long  Island,  abundant  W.  V., 
Sept.  to  May,  a  few  in  summer.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Sept.  21  to  May 
9;  common  W.  V.  when  river  is  open.  Cambridge,  abundant  W.  V.,  Nov. 
to  Apl. 

Nest^  of  grasses,  moss,  seaweed,  etc.,  on  the  ground,  but,  where  the  birds 
have  been  persistently  robbed,  it  is  more  compactly  built  and  placed  in  trees, 
sometimes  fifty  feet  or  more  from  the  ground.  £ggs^  two  to  three,  grayish 
olive-brown,  rarely  whitish,  spotted,  blotched,  and  scrawled  with  distinct  and 
obscure  chocolate  markings,  2-85  x  1-90. 

This  species  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  winter  Gull  along  the 
coasts  of  the  Middle  and  Southern  States.  Unlike  the  more  pelagic 
species,  it  frequents  our  rivers  and  harbors,  feeding  about  piers  and 
wharves,  and  near  the  cities  showing  comparatively  little  fear  of  man. 
Sometimes  one  may  see  them  "  bedded  "  in  flocks  on  the  water,  where 
they  alight  to  rest.  It  is  generally  this  species  which  follows  in  the 
wake  of  our  coastwise  vessels,  sailing  astern,  when  the  wind  is  from 
ahead,  without  the  slightest  perceptible  movement  of  the  wings.  (For 
an  interesting  life-history  of  the  Herring  Gull  see  Mackay,  Auk,  ix, 
1892,  pp.  221-228.) 

The  European  Herring  Gull  {51.  Larus  argentatus)  differs  from  our 
species  in  being  slightly  smaller  and  in  having  the  two  white  spaces  at  the 
tip  of  the  first  primary  joined,  the  black  spot,  therefore,  being  broken  or 
entirely  absent.  It  is  of  rare  occurrence  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  North 
America. 

54.  Liarus  dela^rarensis  Ord.  Ring-billed  Gull.  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Back  and  wings  pearl -gray ;  first  primary  black,  with  a  white  spot  near 
the  tip,  the  base  of  the  inner  half  of  the  inner  web  pearl-gray  (Fig.  60,  b) ; 
second  primary  black,  the  basal  half  of  the  inner  web  pearl-gray ;  on  the 
third  to  sixth  primaries  the  black  decreases  rapidly,  and  each  one  is  tipped 
with  white  ;  rest  of  the  plumage  pure  white ;  bill  greenish  yellow  with  a  black 
band  in  front  of  the  nostril.  Ad.  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  above,  but  the 
head  and  nape  streaked  with  grayish.  Im. — Upper  parts  varying  from  ashy 
fuscous,  the  feathers  margined  with  whitish,  to  pearl-gray,  the  feathers  more 
or  less  mottled,  spotted,  or,  on  the  head  and  neck,  streaked  with  ashy  fus- 
cous ;  outer  primaries  black,  tail  varying  from  pearl-gray,  more  or  less  mottled 
with  blackish,  to  white,  and  crossed  near  the  end  by  a  wide  band  of  black ; 
basal  half  of  the  bill  yellowish,  end  black.  L.,  18-50 ;  W.,  14-00 ;  T.,  6-00 ; 
B.,  1-60. 

Range. — North  America,  more  common  in  the  interior ;  breeds  from 
southern  Minnesota  and  Newfoundland  northward  ;  winters  from  Long  Island 
to  Cuba  and  Mexico. 

Washington,  very  common  T.  V.,  Feb.  to  Apl.  5 ;  Oct.  to  Nov. ;  rare  in 
winter.    Long  Island,  common  W.  V.,  Aug.  to  Apl.    Sing  Sing,  casual  T.  V. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  etc.,  on  the  ground.  Eggs^  two  to  three,  clay-color,  buflTy, 
or  whitish,  rather  evenly  spotted  with  chocolate,  2-30  x  1-65. 


74  GULLS. 

The  coast-inhabiting  individuals  of  this  species  resemble  the  Her- 
ring Gull  in  habits,  and  are  not  easily  identifiable  from  that  species 
unless  the  two  be  seen  together,  when  the  smaller  size  of  the  Ring-bill 
is  noticeable. 

In  the  interior,  where  the  species  is  locally  common,  it  feeds  on 
insects,  which  it  catches  both  on  the  ground  and  in  the  air. 

The  Mew  Gull  {56.  Larus  canus) — a  European  species — has  been  found 
once  in  Labrador. 

58.  Liarus  atricilla;  Linn.  Laughikg  Gull  ;  Black-headed  Gull„ 
(See  Fig.  6,  b.)  Ad.  in  summer. — Back  and  wings  dark  pearl-gray  ;  primaries 
black,  the  inner  ones  with  small  white  tips  (Fig.  60,  c) ;  whole  head  and  throat 
deep  slate-color;  rest  of  the  plumage,  including  the  nape,  pure  white,  the 
breast  sometimes  suffused  by  a  delicate  peach-blossom  tint;  bill  dark  red- 
dish, brighter  at  the  tip.  Ad.  in  winter. — Eesembles  the  above,  but  has  the 
head  and  throat  white,  the  crown  and  sides  of  the  head  and  sometimes  the 
nape  spotted  or  streaked  with  grayish.  Im. — Upper  parts  light  ashy  fuscous, 
the  feathers  margined  with  whitish  ;  primaries  black ;  forehead  and  under 
parts  white,  sometimes  washed  in  places  with  dusky  ;  tail  dark  pearl-gray, 
broadly  tipped  with  black.     L.,  16-50  ;  W.,  12-50  ;  T.,  4-90 ;  B.,  1-65. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Texas  and  Florida  to  Maine;  rare  in  the  interior; 
winters  from  South  Carolina  to  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  irregular  in  fall.  Long  Island,  rare  S.  E.,  irregular  T.  V., 
Apl.  to  Sept. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  seaweed,  etc.,  on  the  ground  in  grassy  marshes.  Eggs., 
three  to  five,  varying  from  grayish  olive-brown  to  greenish  gray,  spotted, 
blotched,  and  scrawled  with  chocolate,  2-15  x  1-55. 

"  From  the  hoarse  clatter  of  the  Terns  one  could  distinguish  its 
long-drawn,  clear  note  on  a  high  key,  sounding  not  unlike  the  more 
excited  call-note  of  the  Domestic  Goose ;  and  every  now  and  then  it 
would  give  its  prolonged,  weird  laughter,  which  has  given  rise  to  its 
common  name.  To  one  who  has  heard  it,  it  might  be  imitated  bj  the 
syllables  hah-ha-ha-ha-ha,  hah-hah-hah,  all  of  which  are  uttered  on  a 
high,  clear  tone,  the  last  three  or  four  syllables,  and  especially  the  last 
one,  being  drawn  out  with  peculiar  and  prolonged  effect,  the  whole 
sounding  like  the  odd  and  excited  laughter  of  an  Indian  squaw,  and 
giving  marked  propriety  to  the  name  of  the  bird  "  (Langille). 

59.  Larus  franklini  Su\  and  Rich..  Franklin's  Gull.  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Whole  head  and  throat  sooty  black,  nape,  sides  of  the  neck,  and  under 
parts,  except  throat,  white,  generally  suffused  (in  fresh  specimens)  with  an 
exquisite  peach-blossom  tint ;  tail  white ;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray ;  first 
primary  white,  the  outer  web  black,  except  at  the  tip,  the  shaft  part  of  the 
inner  web  grayish  on  the  basal  half  (Fig.  60,  d,) ;  second  primary  white,  with 
a  black  mark  on  the  inner  web  and  a  hlack  stripe  on  the  outer  web  near  the 
tip,  the  rest  of  the  outer  web  and  shaft  part  of  the  inner  web  pearl-gray  ;  third 


GULLS.  Y5 

to  sixth,  primaries  tipped  with  white,  then  banded  with  gradually  diminishing 
bars  of  black,  which  are  succeeded  by  a  whitish  space,  while  the  rest  of  the 
feather  is  pearl-gray  ;  bill  dark  coral-red.  Jd.  in  winter. — ''  Similar,  but  head 
and  neck  white,  the  occiput,  with  orbital  and  auricular  regions,  grayish  dusky  ; 
bill  and  feet  dusky,  the  former  tipped  with  orange  reddish."  Young,  first 
plumage. — "  Top  and  sides  of  the  head  (except  forehead  and  lores),  back  and 
scapulars  grayish  brown,  the  longer  scapulars  bordered  terminally  with  pale 
grayish  buff;  wing-coverts  bluish  gray  tinged  with  grayish  brown;  seconda- 
ries dusky,  edged  with  pale  grayish  blue  and  broadly  tipped  with  white ;  pri- 
maries dusky,  the  inner  more  plumbeous,  all  broadly  tipped  with  white. 
Central  portion  of  the  rump  uniform  light  bluish  gray ;  lateral  and  posterior 
portions  of  the  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  entire  lower  parts,  forehead,  lores,  and 
eyelids  white.  Bill  brownish,  dusky  terminally  ;  feet  brown  (in  skin)."  W., 
11-25;  B.,  1-30;  depth  through  nostrils,  -35  ;  Tar.,  1-60  (B.,  B.,  and  E.). 

Hange. — "  Breeds  from  southern  Minneso^  and  Dakota  northward ;  win- 
ters in  the  Southern  States,  and  migrates  principally  west  of  the  Mississippi 
River"  (Cooke  and  Merriam).     Not  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Nest.1  of  grasses,  etc.,  in  reedy  or  bush-grown  marshes,  ^^^s,  one  to  three, 
varying  from  dark  chocolate  to  creamy  brown  and  sooty  white,  irregularly 
marked  with  small  spots  or  large  blotches  of  umber,  and  with  obsolete  lilac 
shell  markings,  2'12  x  1-40  (Preston). 

This  inland  species  reaches  our  western  limits.  An  excellent  ac- 
count of  its  habits,  by  J.  W.  Preston,  will  be  found  in  the  Ornitholo- 
gist and  Oologist,  xi,  pp.  54,  55. 

60.  Larus  Philadelphia;  ( Ord).  Bonaparte's  Gtjll.  Ad.  in  summer. 
— Whole  head  and  throat  dark,  sooty  slate-color;  nape  and  sides  of  the  neck, 
under  parts,  except  throat,  and  tail  white ;  back  and  wings  pearl -gray  ;  first 
primary,  seen  from  above,  white,  the  outer  web  and  tip  black  (Fig.  60,  e) ; 
second  and  third  primaries  white,  tipped  with  black ;  third  to  sixth  primaries 
with  small  whitish  tips,  then  large  black  spaces,  the  rest  of  the  feather  white 
or  pearl-gray ;  bill  black.  Ad.  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  head 
and  throat  white,  the  back  and  sides  of  the  head  washed  with  grayish.  Im. 
— Top  of  the  head  and  nape  and  a  spot  on  the  auriculars  more  or  less  washed 
with  grayish  ;  back  varying  from  brownish  gray  to  pearl-gray ;  lesser  wing- 
coverts  grayish  brown,  secondaries  mostly  pearl-gray ;  first  primary  with  the 
outer  web,  tip,  and  most  of  the  shaft  part  of  the  inner  web  black;  inner  mar- 
gin of  the  inner  web  at  the  end  of  the  feather  narrowly  bordered  with  black ; 
second  and  third  primaries  much  the  same,  but  with  slightly  more  black  at 
the  ends ;  tail  white,  banded  with  black  and  narrowly  tipped  with  white ; 
under  parts  white.    L.,  14-00  ;  W.,  10-30 ;  T.,  4-00 ;  B.,  1-15. 

Range. — Breeds) from  Manitoba  northward;  apparently  no  record  of  its 
breeding  on  the  Atlantic  coast ;  winters  southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  to  May  5 ;  Oct.  and  Nov.  Long  Island, 
common  T.  V.,  a  few  winter,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  rather  rare  T.  V.,  Apl. 
and  Oct. 

Nest^  of  sticks  lined  with  grasses,  etc.,  on  stumps,  in  bushes  or  trees  four 


76  TERNS. 

to  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs^  three  to  four,  grayish  olive  with  a 
greenish  tint  and  small  clove-brown  spots,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  1-97 
X  1-40  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

"  The  flight  is  easy  and  graceful,  each  stroke  of  the  long,  pointed 
wings  throwing  the  body  up  a  little,  while  the  bird  peers  this  way  and 
that  in  quest  of  its  small  prey.  If  it  fly  toward  one,  the  white  front 
of  its  wings,  added  to  its  white  breast  and  neck,  gives  it  the  appear- 
ance of  a  white  bird  with  a  black  head.  It  often  has  a  noticeable  way 
of  turning  partly  around  or  cutting  backward  as  it  drops  in  securing 
some  object  detected  on  or  near  the  surface  of  the  water,  thus  making 
it  appear  decidedly  lithe  and  agile  on  the  wing  "  (Langille). 

The  Little  Gull  {GO-1.  Larus  minutus)^  a  European  species,  has  beer, 
taken  only  once  in  America — on  Long  Island,  in  September,  1887  (Dutcher 
Auk,  V,  1888,  p.  171). 

Eoss's  Gull  {61.  Rhodostethia  rosea).,  an  arctic  species,  is  known  from 
Point  Barrow,  Alaska ;  Melville  Peninsula ;  England,  Faroes,  and  Heligoland  : 
but  has  been  found  in  numbers  only  at  the  first-mentioned  locality.  (See 
Murdoch,  Rep.  of  the  Exp.  to  Point  Barrow,  p.  123.) 

62*  Xema  saibinii  {Sab.).  Sabine's  Gull.  Ad.  in  summer.— ^ho\Q 
head  and  throat  slate-color,  bordered  posteriorly  by  black ;  back  and  sides  of 
the  neck,  under  parts,  except  throat,  and  slightly  forTced  tail  pure  white ; 
back  and  wings  dark  pearl-gray ;  secondaries  tipped  with  white  ;  first  primary 
black,  the  inner  half  of  the  inner  web,  except  at  the  end,  white ;  second  to 
fourth  primaries  similar,  but  tipped  with  white ;  bill  black,  the  end  yellow. 
Ad.  in  winter. — "  Similar  to  the  summer  plumage,  but  the  head  and  neck 
white,  except  occiput,  nape,  and  auricular  region,  which  are  dull,  dusky 
plumbeous"  (B.,  B.,  and  R.).  Im. — Forehead  and  lores  white,  rest  of  the 
upper  parts  ashy  brown,  the  feathers  slightly  tipped  with  whitish ;  tail  white, 
broadly  tipped  with  blackish  ;  under  parts  white.  L.,  14-00 ;  W.,  10-50 ;  T., 
4-50;  B.,  95. 

Range. — Arctic  regions,  in  winter  migrating  only  a  short  distance  south- 
ward and  rarely  reaching  the  United  States. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  etc.,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  two  to  five,  deep  olive  (vary- 
ing in  intensity,  however),  rather  indistinctly  spotted  or  blotched  with  brown. 
1-78  X  1-26  (Ridgw.). 

This  boreal  species  is  of  rare  occurrence  in  the  northern  United 
States  in  the  winter. 

Suhfamily  Sternince.     Terns. 

Terns  are  littoral ;  never,  I  believe,  pelagic.  They  inhabit  the  shores 
of  bodies  of  both  fresh  and  salt  water,  but  are  more  abundant  on  the 
seacoast  than  in  the  interior.  Their  principal  characters,  as  compared 
with  the  Grulls,  are  mentioned  under  the  subfamily  Larince.     Their 


TERNS.  77 

power  of  flight  has  deservedly  won  for  them  the  name  of  Sea  Swal- 
lows. They  capture  their  prey  of  small  fish  by  plunging  into  the 
water,  frequently  disappearing  and  swimming  a  few  feet  beneath  the 
surface.  They  nest  in  colonies.  The  nest  is  usually  on  the  ground. 
Q-enerally  it  is  simply  a  slight  depression  in  the  sand,  shells,  or  pebbles 
of  a  beach,  or  in  the  near-by  seaweed,  moss,  or  grasses.  Sometimes  it 
is  scantily  lined  with  bits  of  grass,  seaweed,  moss,  etc.,  but  these  are 
frequently  wanting. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

I.  Wing  under  13-00. 

1.  Entire  top  of  the  head  jet-black. 

A.  Bill  black,  or  mostly  black. 

a.  Feet  black  or  blackish. 

ai.  Under  parts  black  or  blackish 77.  Black  Tern. 

a^.  Under  parts  white ;  bill  black     ....   63.  Gull-billed  Tern. 
a3.  Under  parts  white;  bill  black,  broadly  tipped  with  yellow. 

67.  Cabot's  Tern. 

b.  Feet  yellowish  or  orange. 

Ji.  Outer  tail-feathers  pure  white ;  outer  web  of  first  primary  black. 

72.  KosEATE  Tern. 

5'.  Inner  web  of  outer  tail-feather  gray ;  outer  web  of  first  primary 

gray 69.  Forster's  Tern. 

B.  Bill  mostly  or  entirely  yellowish,  reddish,  brownish,  or  orange. 

a.  Under  parts  tinged  with  grayish ;  outer  web  of  outer  tail-feather 
gray ;  inner  web  white. 

ai.  Bill  broadly  tipped  with  blackish ;  tarsus  generally  over  -70. 

70.  Common  Tern. 
o3.  Bill  without  a  distinct  black  tip ;  tarsus  generally  under  -70. 

71.  Arctic  Tern. 

b.  Under  parts  pure  white ;  inner  web  of  outer  tail-feather  gray ;  outer 
web  white 69.  Forster's  Tern. 

2.  Forehead  white;  lores  black;  crown  jet-black. 

J.  Wing  under  8-00;  back  pearl -gray . 74.  Least  Tern. 

£.  Wing  over  8*00 ;  back  grayish  brown  or  blackish. 

a.  Back  grayish  brown ;  a  white  stripe  from  the  forehead  over  the  eye. 

76.  Bridled  Tern. 

b.  Back  blackish ;  white  of  forehead  not  reaching  over  the  eye. 

75.  Sooty  Tern. 

3.  Forehead  or  crown  white  or  grayish,  sometimes  speckled  with  black; 
lores  not  entirely  black. 

A.  Wing  pearl-gray,  over  9-00. 

a.  Outer  tail-feather  entirely  pure  white. 

fli.  Bill  over  1-75,  tipped  with  yellowish     ...     67.  Cabot's  Tern. 
a".  Bill  under  1-75,  without  a  yellow  tip     .  72.  Eoseate  Tern  (Im.). 

b.  Outer  tail-feather  not  pure  white. 

b^.  Inner  web  of  outer  tail-feather  darker  than  outer  web  ;  outer  web 


78 


TERNS. 


mostly  or  entirely  white ;  a  black  space  generally  on  the  side  of 

the  head  inclosing  the  eye 69.  Forster's  Tern  (Im.). 

52.  Outer  web  of  outer  tail-feather  darker  than  inner  web;  tarsus 

over  "70 70.  Common  Tern  (Im.). 

b^.  Outer  web  of  outer  tail-feather  darker  than  inner  web ;  tarsus 

under  '70 71.  Arctic  Tern  (Im.)„ 

£.  "Wing  blackish,  over  9*00. 

a.  Under  parts  blackish 75.  Sooty  Tern  (Im.). 

b.  Under  parts  white 76.  Bridled  Tern  (Im.). 

4.  Crown  silvery  gray ;  lores  black ;  rest  of  plumage  sooty      .    79.  Noddy. 

C.  Wing  under  9-00 77.  Black  Tern  (Im.). 

II.  Wing  over  13-00. 

A.  Wing  15-00  or  over ;  outer  primary  mostly  gray.     64.  Caspian  Tern. 
£.  Wing  under  15-00  ;  inner  half  of  inner  web  of  first  primary  white. 

65.  KoYAL  Tern. 


Fig.  61.— First  primaries  of  adult  Terns,  seen  from  below,    (a)  Caspian  Tern ; 
(6)  Royal  Tern  ;  (c)  Common  Tern  ;  (d)  Arctic  Tern  ;  (e)  Roseat*  Tern. 


63*  Gelochelidon  nilotica  Hasselq.  Gull-billed  Tern;  Marsh 
Tern.  Ad.  in  summer. — Top  of  the  head  and  nape  black;  back  and  wings 
pale  pearl-gray;  outer  web  of  outer  primaries  silvery;  tip  and  shaft  part  of 
the  inner  web  darker;  inner  part  of  the  inner  web,  except  for  a  narrow  mar- 


TERNS.  79 

gin  at  the  end  of  the  feather,  white ;  tail  white,  slightly  forked,  the  middle 
feathers  grayish ;  under  parts  white ;  bill  and  feet  black,  the  former  rather 
short  and  stout.  Ad.  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  above,  but  top  of  the  head 
white,  auriculars  grayish,  and  a  space  in  front  of  the  eye  blackish.  L.,  14-50 ; 
W.,  12-00;  T.,  5-50;  B.,  1-40;  depth  of  B.  at  base,  -50. 

Range. — Cosmopolitan ;  in  North  America  breeds  along  the  Gulf  coast  from 
Mexico  to  Florida,  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  to  Virginia,  straying 
northward  rarely  to  Maine. 

Washington,  casual.     Long  Island,  A.  V.  in  summer. 

Eggs.,  three  to  Ave,  rather  uniform  buffy  white,  with  numerous  distinct  and 
obscure  chocolate  markings,  1-80  x  1-30. 

This  is  a  common  species  on  the  coast  of  our  Southern  States.  It 
is  said  to  prefer  insects,  which  it  catches  on  the  wing,  to  fish.  Its  voice 
is  harsh  and  easily  distinguishable  from  that  of  other  Terns,  while  its 
heavy  black  bill  will  also  serve  to  identify  it. 

64.  Sterna  tsche^ava  Lepech.  Caspian  Tern.  Ad.  in  spring. 
— Top  and  back  of  the  head  shining  black,  the  feathers  lengthened  to  form 
a  crest ;  back  of  the  neck,  under  parts,  and  tail  white  ;  back  and  wings  pearl- 
gray  ;  primaries  dark  slaty,  silvery  on  the  outer  web  (Fig.  61,  a)  ;  bill  coral- 
red,  darker  near  the  tip ;  feet  black.  Ad.  after  the  breeding  season  and  in 
winter. — Similar  to  the  above,  but  top  of  the  head  streaked  with  black.  Im. 
— Top  of  head  streaked  with  black  and  white  ;  back  of  neck  and  under  parts 
white ;  back,  wing-coverts,  and  tertials  pearl-gray,  spotted  or  barred  with 
brownish  black  ;  primaries  dark  slaty,  silvery  on  the  outer  web ;  tail  pearl- 
gray,  more  or  less  barred  with  brownish  black ;  bill  orange-red ;  feet  black- 
ish brown.     L.,  21-00;  W.,  16-20;  T.,  6-00;  B.,  2-80. 

Range. — A  cosmopolitan  species  of  irregular  distribution ;  in  North  Amer- 
ica, breeds  locally  from  Texas  to  Great  Slave  Lake  ;  migrates  through  the  in- 
terior and  on  the  coast,  and  apparently  does  not  winter  within  our  limits. 

Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V.,  Aug.  and  Sept. 

Eggs.,  two  to  three,  grayish  white  or  buffy  white,  with  rather  small,  dis- 
tinct, and  obscure  chocolate  markings,  2-70  x  1-83. 

This  large  Tern  of  local  distribution  is  to  be  known  by  its  size  and 
red  bill.  Unless  the  two  were  seen  together,  however,  I  do  not  believe 
it  could  with  certainty  be  distinguished  in  life  from  the  Royal  Tern. 

65.  Sterna  maxima  Bodd.  Eoyal  Tern.  Ad.  in  spring. — Top  and 
back  of  the  head  shining  black,  the  feathers  lengthened  to  form  a  crest ; 
back  of  the  neck,  under  parts,  and  tail  white ;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray ; 
inner  web  of  primaries,  except  at  the  tip,  white  ;  tip,  outer  web,  and  shaft  part 
of  inner  web  dark,  silvery  slate-color  (Fig.  61,  b).  Ad.  after  the  breeding 
season  and  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  above,  but  top  of  the  head  streaked 
with  black  and  white.  Im. — Eesembling  the  young  of  S.  tschegrava.,  but 
smaller  and  with  the  inner  half  of  the  inner  web  of  the  primaries  white.  L., 
19-00;  W.,  14-00  ;  T.,  7-00  ;  B.,  2-50. 

Range. — Breeding  in  North  America  along  the  Gulf  coast  from  Texas  to 


80  TERNS. 

Florida,  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Virginia ;  occasionally  wanders  north- 
ward to  the  Great  Lakes  and  Massachusetts. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.  in  summer. 

Eggs^  one  to  four,  more  pointed  than  those  of  the  preceding,  grayish  white, 
with  rather  small,  distinct,  and  obscure  chocolate  markings,  2*65  x  1-75. 

A  common  species  on  our  southern  coasts.  During  the  winter  it 
is  about  the  only  Tern  one  sees  in  Florida  waters.  It  is  a  strong, 
active  bird  on  the  wing,  and  a  reckless,  dashing  diver,  frequently  dis- 
appearing beneath  the  surface  in  catching  its  prey.  The  slow-flying 
Pelicans  are  at  its  mercy,  and  it  often  deftly  robs  them  of  their  well- 
earned  gains. 

Both  this  species  and  the  preceding,  and  indeed  all  the  Terns,  are 
to  be  known  from  the  Gulls  by  the  very  different  manner  in  which 
they  hold  their  bills.  A  Tern  points  its  bill  directly  downward,  and 
looks,  as  Coues  says,  like  a  big  mosquito,  while  a  Gull's  bill  points  for- 
ward in  the  plane  of  its  body. 

67.  Sterna  sandvicensis  acuflavida  {Cabot).  Cabot's  Tern; 
Sakdwich  Tern.  Ad.  in  spring. — Whole  top  of  the  head  and  crest  black ; 
back  and  wings  light  pearl-gray ;  primaries  silvery  gray ;  the  shaft  part  of 
the  inner  web  white  except  at  the  tip ;  rest  of  the  plumage  white  ;  feet  and 
bill  black,  the  latter  with  a  conspicuous  yellowish  tip.  Ad.  after  the  breeding 
season  and  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  above,  but  crown  white,  sometimes 
spotted  with  black ;  back  of  the  head  and  crest  more  or  less  streaked  with 
white.  Im. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  back  spotted  with  blackish ;  tail 
slaty  gray  and  much  shorter ;  bill  slightly  if  at  all  tipped  with  yellow.  L., 
16-00;  W.,  10-50;  T.,  5-50;  B.,  2-05. 

^a72-^e.— Tropical  America,  breeding  on  the  Gulf  coast  from  Texas  to 
Florida,  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  South  Carolina ;  accidental  in  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Eggs^  two  to  three,  huffy  white,  spotted,  speckled,  and  scrawled  with  dis- 
tinct and  obscure  chocolate  markings,  2-05  x  1*40. 

This  is  an  abundant  summer  resident  on  the  coasts  of  southern 
Florida,  and  in  winter  is  common  as  far  north  as  Key  West. 

It  is  said  by  Audubon  to  somewhat  resemble  the  Marsh  Tern  on 
the  wing,  and  to  have  a  loud,  sharp,  grating  voice,  which  can  be  heard 
half  a  mile  or  more.  I  have  never  seen  it  alive,  but  I  believe  its 
yellow-tipped,  black  bill  would  enable  one  to  identify  it  at  some  dis- 
tance. 

Trudeatj's  Tern  {68.  Sterna  trudeaui)  is  a  South  American  species  which 
has  been  taken  once  on  Long  Island  and  once  on  the  New  Jersey  coast. 

69.  Sterna  forsteri  Nutt.  Forster's  Tern.  Ad.  in  summer. — 
Whole  top  of  the  head  black ;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray ;  inner  border  of 
inner  web  of  the  outer  primaries  white,  except  at  the  tip ;  rump  and  entire 


TERNB.  81 

under  parts  white  ;  tail  light  pearl-gray,  the  outer  feather  darker  toward  the 
end,  where  the  inner  web  is  always  darlcer  than  the  outer ;  bill  dull  orange, 
the  end  third  blackish ;  feet  orange.  Ad.  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  above, 
but  head  white,  more  or  less  washed  with  grayish  or  spotted  with  black,  a 
large  black  spot  on  the  side  of  the  head  inclosing  the  eye ;  bill  mostly  black ; 
feet  brownish.  Im. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  the  back  and  wings  more 
or  less  mottled  or  washed  with  light  brownish,  and  the  tail  much  shorter. 
L.,  15-00 ;  W.,  10-25  ;  T.,  7-00  ;  Tar.,  90  ;  B.,  1-50. 

Range. — Of  more  or  less  general  distribution  throughout  North  America, 
breeding  in  the  east  locally  from  Texas  northward  through  the  Mississippi 
Valley  to  St.  Clair  Flats  and  Manitoba — recorded  from  Lake  Mistassini — ap- 
parently not  breeding  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Virginia,  but  wandering 
irregularly  to  Massachusetts. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  T.  V.    Long  Island,  rare  T.  V.  in  fall. 

Kest.^  of  seaweed,  flags,  or  weeds  on  a  slight  elevation  in  grassy  marshes. 
Eggs.,  three,  very  variable,  olive-gray,  or  olive  brownish  ashy,  more  rarely 
whitish  or  buff",  heavily  marked  with  chocolate,  1-80  x  1-30. 

Dr.  Brewer,  writing  of  Mr.  Ridgway's  experience  with  this  species 
on  Cobb's  Island,  Virginia,  where  it  was  found  breeding  in  numbers, 
says :  "  It  was  only  less  abundant  than  the  Anglica  [=  nilotica],  and 
quite  as  numerous  as  the  hirundo,  frequenting  especially  grassy 
marshes,  in  which  it  nests.  He  found  it  pre-eminently  a  marsh  Tern. 
It  nested  in  company  with,  or  in  close  proximity  to,  colonies  of  the 
Black-headed  Gull.  It  could  be  readily  distinguished  from  the  Com- 
mon Tern,  which  it  closely  resembles  when  on  the  wing,  by  its  grating 
monotonous  note,  which  very  closely  resembles  one  frequently  uttered 
by  the  Loggerhead  Shrike"  (B.  B.,  and  R.). 

VO.  Sterna  himndo  Linn.  Common  Tern  ;  Wilson's  Teen  ;  Sea 
Swallow  (see  Fig.  7).  Ad.  in  summer. — Whole  top  of  the  head  black  ;  back 
and  wings  pearl-gray ;  inner  border  of  inner  web  of  outer  primaries  white, 
except  at  the  tip  (Fig.  61,  c) ;  throat  white ;  breast  and  belly  pale  pearl-gray  ; 
tail  white,  the  outer  webs  of  the  outer  feathers  gray  or  pearl-gray  ;  bill  red  at 
the  base,  the  end  third  black ;  feet  orange-red.  Ad.  in  winter. — Similar  to 
the  above,  but  front  part  of  the  head  and  under  parts  white:  bill  mostly 
black.  Im. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  the  back  more  or  less  washed  or 
mottled  with  light  brownish ;  lesser  wing-coverts  slaty  gray,  and  tail  much 
shorter.    L.,  15-00  ;  W.,  10-25;  T.,  5-50  ;  Tar.,  -75 ;  B.,  1-40. 

Remarks. — The  Common  Tern  is  closely  related  to  Forster's  Tern  and  also 
to  the  Arctic  Tern.  From  the  former  it  is  to  be  distinguished  by  the  color  of 
the  long  outer  tail-feathers.  In  the  Common  Tern  the  outer  web  of  these 
feathers  Is  always  darker  than  the  inner  web;  in  Forster's  Tej-n  the  inner 
web  is  always  darker  than  the  outer  one.  Adult  Common  Terns  have  the 
breast  and  belly  washed  wMh.  pearl-gray.,  while  in  Forster's  Tern  these  parts 
are  pure  white. 

The  Common  Tern  differs  from  the  Arctic  Tern  in  having  the  bill  tipped 
7 


82  TERNS. 

with  black  instead  of  being  entirely  red ;  in  having  longer  tarsi,  and  in  the 
color  of  the  primaries. 

Range. — ^"  Greater  part  of  the  northern  hemisphere  and  Africa;  in  North 
America  chiefly  confined  to  the  eastern  province  "  (A.  O.  U,).  Breeds  locally 
both  on  the  coast  and  in  the  interior  from  the  Gulf  States  to  the  Barren 
Grounds  and  Greenland. 

Washington,  irregular  T.  V.,  sometimes  common.  Long  Island,  common 
S.  E.,  May  through  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  casual  in  late  summer.  Cambridge^ 
casual  in  Sept. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  not  distinguishable  with  certainty  from  those  ot 
the  preceding,  but  averaging  paler  and  greener,  and  less  heavily  marked, 
1-60  X  1-20. 

It  is  five  years  since  I  visited  the  breeding  grounds  of  the  colony 
of  Common  Terns  on  Gull  Island,  L.  I.,  but  1  can  close  my  eyes  and 
still  feel  the  air  vibrate  with  the  harsh,  half-threatening,  half-pleading 
chorus  of  nearly  two  thousand  excited  voices.  There  is  a  dull,  heavy, 
hopeless  monotone,  broken  only  by  the  scream  of  some  half-maddened 
bird  who  fearlessly  darts  downward  to  protect  its  nest  at  my  feet.  A 
shot  is  fired ;  there  is  a  moment  of  awe-struck  silence,  then,  with  re- 
newed violence,  the  screaming  is  resumed.  Pandemonium  reigns: 
/ea)*r,  terrrr,  swish  I  the  air  is  full  of  darting,  diving,  crying  Terns. 
It  was  useless  to  attempt  to  secrete  myself.  At  no  time  during  my 
stay  did  the  outcry  cease  or  hovering  flock  disperse. 

This  little,  barren,  uninhabited,  sandy  island — only  a  few  acres  in 
extent — and  Muskeget  Island,  off  the  Massachusetts  coast,  are  the  only 
localities,  from  New  Jersey  to  Maine,  where  the  once  abundant  Common 
Tern,  or  Sea  Swallow,  can  be  found  in  any  numbers.  What  an  illus- 
tration of  the  results  of  man's  greed  and  woman's  thoughtlessness ! 
The  fickle  fashion  which  indorsed  the  poor  Tern's  spotless  plumage 
has  long  since  found  new  favorites,  and  the  sadly  mangled  pearl-gray 
feathers  have  gone  to  graves  in  the  ash-heap.  Now  it  is  the  Egret's 
turn. 

Even  the  protection  afforded  by  an  insular  home  was  not  sufficient. 
Feather  hunters,  egg  robbers,  and  self-styled  oologists  came  in  boats 
to  drive  the  Sea  Swallows  from  their  last  resort ;  but  the  law  inter- 
fered, and  both  Gull  and  Muskeget  Islands  now  have  a  paid  keeper 
whose  duty  it  is  to  protect  the  Terns, 

71.  Sterna  paradissea  Brunn.  Arctic  Tern. — Very  similar  in 
color  to  the  Common  Tern,  from  which  it  diff'ers  in  having  less  gray  on  the 
shaft  part  of  the  inner  M-eb  of  the  outer  primaries  (Fig.  61,  <^) ;  in  having  the 
tail  somewhat  longer,  the  tarsi  and  bill  shorter,  while  the  latter,  in  the  adult, 
is  generally  without  a  black  tip.  L.,  15-50 ;  W.,  10-25 ;  T.,  7-50 ;  Tar.,  -65 ; 
B.,  1-30. 

Bange. — "  Northern  hemisphere ;  in  North  America,  breeding  from  Massa 


TERNS,  83 

chusetts  to  the  arctic  regions,  and  wintering  southward  to  Virginia  and  Cali- 
fornia" (A.  O.  U.). 

Long  Island,  rare  in  summer. 

Eggs^  three  to  four,  not  distinguishable  with  certainty  from  those  of  the 
preceding,  1-62  x  1-15. 

Comparing  the  notes  of  this  bird  with  those  of  the  Common  Tern, 
Mr.  Brewster  writes  :  "  Their  notes  are  similar,  but  several  of  them 
can  be  distinguished.  The  usual  cry  of  S.  macrura  [= paradiscea]  cor- 
responds to  the  tearr  of  S.  hirundo,  but  is  shriller,  ending  in  a  rising 
inflection,  and  sounding  very  like  the  squeal  of  a  pig.  The  bird  also 
has  a  short,  harsh  note  similar  to  that  of  Forster's  Tern.  At  any  dis- 
tance within  fair  gun-range  I  could  usually  separate  it  from  Wilson's 
[=  Common]  Tern  by  its  longer  tail,  and  by  the  uniform  and  deeper 
color  of  the  bill.  In  flight  and  habits  the  two  seemed  to  me  identical " 
(Birds  Observed  on  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 
Hist.,  xxii,  1883,  p.  403). 

"72.  Sterna  douga/lli  Montag.  Koseate  Tern.  Ad.  in  summer. — 
Top  of  head  black;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray;  outer  web  of  outer  pri- 
maries and  shaft  part  of  the  inner  web  slaty  black  (Fig.  61,  6) ;  under  parts 
white,  generally  delicately  tinted  with  pinkish;  tail  pure  white;  bill  black, 
the  base  reddish ;  feet  red.  Ad.  in  wifiter. — Similar  to  the  above,  but  front 
of  the  head  white,  more  or  less  streaked  or  spotted  with  black ;  under  parts 
pure  white.  Im..,  first  plumage. — "  Pileum  and  nape  pale  buffy  grayish,  finely 
mottled  or  sprinkled  with  darker,  and  streaked,  especially  on  the  crown,  with 
dusky  ;  orbital  and  auricular  regions  dusky  blackish  ;  remainder  of  the  head, 
extreme  lower  part  of  the  nape,  and  entire  lower  parts  white,  the  nape,  and 
sometimes  the  breast,  finely  mottled  with  buffy  gray ;  back,  scapulars,  wing- 
coverts,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail  pale  pearl-blue,  the  back  and  scapu- 
lars overlaid  with  pale  buff  irregularly  mottled  with  dusky,  each  feather  with 
a  submarginal  dusky  V-shaped  mark  ;  primary  coverts  and  primaries  dark 
bluish-gray  edged  with  paler,  the  inner  webs  of  the  latter  broadly  edged  with 
white ;  tail-feathers  marked  near  their  ends  much  like  the  longer  scapulars, 
their  outer  webs  rather  dark  grayish  ;  bill  brownish  dusky  ;  feet  dusky."  L., 
15-50;  W.,  9-50;  T.,  7-50;  B.,  1-50  (B.,  B.,  and  K.). 

Range. — Temperate  and  tropical  regions  ;  in  America  apparently  confined 
to  the  Atlantic  coast,  breeding  from  Florida  northward  to  Maine ;  compara- 
tively rare  north  of  southern  New  Jersey  ;  winters  south  of  the  United  States. 

Long  Island,  uncommon  but  regular  S.  E.,  May  through  Sept. 

Eggs.^  three,  not  distinguishable  with  certainty  from  those  of  S.forsteri  or 
S.  Mrttndo,  but  averaging  paler  and  less  heavily  marked,  1-65  x  1-20. 

This  species  is  found  associated  with  colonies  of  Common  Terns, 
apparently  making  its  nest  among  theirs.  It  is  a  less  excitable,  wilder 
bird  than  Mru7ido,  and  its  single  harsh  note,  cack,  may  be  distinctly 
heard  above  the  uproar  of  Common  Terns,  as  it  hovers  somewhat  in 


84  TERNS. 

the  background.  Its  white  breast  and  long  outer  tail-feathers  also  aid 
in  distinguishing  it. 

.  74.  Sterna  antillamm  (Less.).  Least  Tekn.  Ad.  in  summer.— 
Forehead  white,  Zo/'^s  and  crown  black;  back,  tail,  and  wings  pearl-gray; 
outer  M'^eb  of  outer  primaries  and  shaft  part  of  the  inner  web  slaty  black ; 
under  parts  white;  bill  yellow,  generally  tipped  with  black;  feet  orange. 
Ad.  in  winter. — Top  of  head  white,  more  or  less  spotted  with  black ;  back  of 
head  black  ;  bill  blackish.  I?n. — Upper  parts  and  tail  at  the  end  mottled 
with  blackish  and  huffy,  primaries  as  in  the  adult,  under  parts  white,  bill 
blackish.     L.,  9-00  ;  W.,  6-90  ;  T.,  3-50 ;  B.,  1-10. 

Range. — Northern  South  America  northward  to  California,  Dakota,  and 
Massachusetts,  rarely  to  Labrador ;  breeds  locally  throughout  its  range,  and 
winters  south  of  the  United  States. 

Washington,  casual  T.  V.    Long  Island,  rare  in  summer. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  buify  white,  speckled  or  spotted  with  chocolate, 
1-25  X  -90. 

This,  the  smallest  of  our  Terns,  resembles  its  congeners  in  habits, 
though  it  is  said  to  add  insects  to  its  usual  fare  of  fish.  Its  voice  is 
described  as  "  a  sharp  squeak,  much  like  the  cry  of  a  very  young  pig 
following  its  mother." 

TS.  Sterna  fuliginosa  Gmel.    Sooty  Teen.    Ad. — Forehead  and  a 

line  reaching  to  the  eye  white,  lores  and  rest  of  the  head  black ;  nape,  back, 
and  wings  brownish  black,  nearly  as  dark  as  the  head ;  outer  tail-feathers 
white,  brownish  on  the  end  half  of  the  inner  web ;  rest  of  tail-feathers  of  the 
same  color  as  the  back ;  under  parts  white ;  bill  and  feet  black,  /m.,  first 
flumage. — Sooty  slate-color ;  linings  of  the  wings  and  under  tail-coverts 
whitish  ;  wing-coverts,  scapulars,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail-feathers  more  or 
less  tipped  with  white.    L.,  17-00 :  W.,  11-50  ;  T.,  7-25 ;  B.,  1-75. 

Mange. — Tropical  and  siibtropical  regions  ;  in  North  America  breeds  rarely 
as  far  north  as  North  Carolina;  occasionally  wanders  northward  to  Maine; 
winters  south  of  the  United  States. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.  in  summer. 

Eggs.,  one  to  three,  whitish  or  buff",  speckled  or  spotted  with  chocolate, 
2-00  X  1-45. 

A  regular  summer  visitant  to  our  southern  coasts  and  occasionally 
wandering  northward.  It  breeds  in  colonies  in  little-frequented  islands 
in  the  West  Indies,  and  may  be  seen  fishing  in  flocks,  which  hover 
low  over  the  water. 

The  Bridled  Tern  (76.  Sterna  anmtTietus).,  o.  tropical  species,  has  been 
taken  once  in  Florida,  but  may  prove  to  be  a  regular  summer  visitant  to  some 
of  the  Florida  keys. 

77.  Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis  ( Gmel.).  Black  Tern, 
Ad.  in  summer. — Whole  head  and  under  parts,  except  under  tail-coverts, 
black;  back,  wings,  and  tail  slate-color;  bill  and  feet  black.    Ad.  in  winter. 


SKIMMERS.  85 

.—Forehead,  nape,  and  under  parts  white :  back  of  the  head  black  mixed 
with  white ;  back,  wings,  and  tail  desp  pearl-gray.  Im. — Similar  to  the  pre- 
ceding, but  upper  parts  more  or  less  washed  and  tipped  with  brownish  ;  sides 
washed  with  grayish.    L.,  10-00 ;  W„,  8-30 ;  T.,  3-30  ;  B.,  1-00. 

Eange. — Temperate  and  tropical  America;  breeds  in  the  interior  from 
Kansas  and  Illinois  to  Alaska;  not  known  to  breed  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
where  it  is  found  from  Prince  Edward's  Island  southward  as  an  irregular 
migrant,  occurring  at  times  in  considerable  numbers. 

Washington,  irregular  T.  V.,  Sept.  Long  Island,  irregular  T.  V.  in  vary- 
ing numbers,  Aug.  and  Sept.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V.,  Sept. 

Kest^  of  reeds,  grasses,  etc.,  rather  closely  woven,  in  grassy  marshes  or 
vegetation  floating  in  a  slough,  Egcjs^  two  to  three,  grayish  olive-brown, 
rarely  whitish,  heavily  spotted  and  blotched  with  chocolate  markings,  fre- 
quently confluent  about  the  larger  end,  1-35  x  -98. 

This  is  an  abundant  species  at  favorable  localities  in  the  interior. 

"  It  seems  not  to  subsist  on  fish  at  all,  but  chiefly  on  dragon  flies 
and  various  aquatic  insects.  It  finds  both  its  home  and  its  food  in 
the  marshes  usually,  but  its  powers  of  flight  are  so  great  that  it  may 
also  be  seen  far  out  on  the  dry  open  plains,  scouring  the  country  for 
food  at  a  distance  of  miles  from  its  nesting  ground.  .  .  . 

"  The  bird  may  frequently  be  seen  dashing  about  in  a  zigzag  man- 
ner so  swiftly,  the  eye  can  ofl'er  no  explanation  of  its  motive  until,  on 
the  resumption  of  its  ordinary  flight,  a  large  dragon  fly  is  seen  hang- 
ing from  its  bill.  .  .  ."  (Thompson). 

The  White-winged  Black  Tern  {78.  Hydrochelidon  leucoptera).,  an  Old 
World  species,  has  been  taken  once  in  Wisconsin,  and  is  recorded  as  "  seen  " 
on  a  lake  near  Winnipeg. 

79.  Anous  stoMdus  (Z*«?i.).  Noddy.  Ad. — Top  of  the  head  silvery 
whitish,  lores  blacti;;  rest  of  the  plumage  dark  sooty  brown ;  tail  rounded, 
the  central  tail-feathers  longest.  Imi. — Similar,  but  the  top  of  the  head  is 
like  the  rest  of  the  plumage  and  the  silvery  whitish  appears  as  a  line  from 
the  bill  to  above  the  eye.     L.,  15-00 ;  W.,  10-25 ;  T.,  5-90  ;  B.,  1-70. 

Range. — "  Tropical  and  subtropical  regions ;  in  America,  from  Brazil  and 
Chili  north  to  the  Gulf  and  South  Atlantic  States"  (A.  0.  U.). 

Nest.,  of  sticks,  grasses,  etc.,  on  a  mangrove  bush,  in  a  tree,  sometimes  on 
the  beach  or  in  crevices  of  rocks.  Egg.,  pale  butty  white,  sparingly  marked 
with  rufous,  2-05  x  1-35. 

This  is  a  summer  visitant  to  our  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts, 
and  nests  on  some  of  the  Florida  keys. 

Family  Rynchopid^.    Skimmers. 

The  three  closely  allied  species  constituting  this  small  but  distinct 
family  are  found  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  earth.     Only  one  species 


86  ALBATROSSES. 

inhabits  the  western  hemisphere.  Skimmers  are  unique  both  in  the 
form  of  the  bill  and  in  their  manner  of  feeding.  Opening  the  mouth, 
the  bladelike  lower  mandible  is  dropped  just  beneath  the  surface  of 
the  water ;  then,  flying  rapidly,  they  may  be  said  to  literally  "  plow  the 
main  "  in  search  of  their  food  of  small  aquatic  animals. 

80.  Rynchops  nigra  Linn.  Black  Skimmer;  Scissoe-bill  (see 
Fig.  8).  Ad. — Forehead,  sides  of  the  head,  under  parts,  and  tips  of  the  sec- 
ondaries white  ;  upper  parts  and  wings  black  ;  outer  tail-feathers  white,  inner 
ones  more  or  less  brownish.     L.,  18-00 ;  W.,  14-50 ;  T.,  4  75  ;  B.,  2-60. 

Range. — Coasts  of  the  warmer  parts  of  America,  breeding  regularly  as  far 
north  as  southern  New  Jersey,  and,  after  the  breeding  season,  occasionally 
wandering  northward  as  far  as  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 

Washington,  A.  V.     Long  Island,  occasional  in  summer. 

A(^s^,  a  slight  depression  in  the  sand  or  shells  of  a  beach.  Eggs.,  three  to 
four,  white  or  buffy  white,  heavily  blotched  with  chocolate,  1-80  x  1*35. 

A  not  uncommon  species  on  our  southern  coasts,  resembling  other 
members  of  this  family  in  habits. 


ORDER  TUBINARES.     TUBE-NOSED   SWIMMERS. 

Family  DioMEDEiDiE.    Albatrosses. 

The  Albatrosses,  numbering  eight  or  ten  species,  are  confined  chiefly 
to  the  seas  of  the  southern  hemisphere.  They  are  eminently  pelagic 
birds,  possessed  of  untiring  powers  of  flight.  Four  species  visit  our 
Pacific  coast,  but  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  North  America  Albatrosses 
are  almost  unknown,  and  there  are  but  few  records  of  their  occurrence. 

The  Wandering  Albatross  (80-1.  Dioraedea  exulans).,  the  largest  of  all 
sea  birds,  with  an  expanse  of  wing  which  measures  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
feet,  inhabits  antarctic  seas,  but  sometimes  wanders  northward,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  seen  in  Tampa  Bay,  Florida. 

The  Yellow-nosed  Albatross  {8S.  Thalassogeron  culminatus)  is  also  a 
southern  species  which  is  said  to  have  been  taken  once  in  Quebec  (Chamber- 
lain, NuttalPs  Manual,  2d  ed.,  ii,  p.  277). 

Family  Procellariid^.    Shearwaters  and  Petrels. 

The  seventy  known  species  of  Petrels  are  distributed  over  the  seas 
of  the  world.  Some  thirty  species  have  been  found  in  North  America, 
of  which  seven  occur  regularly  on  our  Atlantic  coast.  Like  their  large 
relatives,  the  Albatrosses,  they  are  strictly  pelagic,  and  visit  the  land 
only  to  nest.  The  strong,  swift  flig-ht  of  Shearwaters,  and  the  graceful 
movements  of  the  smaller  "  Mother  Carey's  Chickens,"  are  familiar 
sights  to  those  who  go  "  down  to  the  sea  in  ships." 


SHEARWATERS  AND   PETRELS.  87 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES, 

I.  Wing  over  10-50. 

A.  U  nder  parts  dusky 94.  Sooty  Shearwateb. 

£.  Under  parts  white. 

a.  Bill  under  1-50 98.  Black-capped  Petrel. 

b.  Bill  over  1-50. 

b^.  Under  tail-coverts  white 88.  Cory's  Shearwater. 

J'.  Under  tail-coverts  grayish  brown     .    .     89.  Greater  Shearwater. 
[I.  Wing  under  10-50. 

A.  Wing  over  7-25. 

a.  Depth  of  bill  at  base  over  -50.      .     86.  Fulmar.     86a.  Lesser  Fulmar. 

b.  Depth  of  bill  at  base  under  -50. 

b^.  Upper  parts  bluish  gray 99.  Scaled  Petrel. 

b^.  Upper  parts  sooty  black 92.  Audubon's  Shearwater. 

B.  Wing  under  7-25. 

a.  Upper  tail-coverts  more  or  less  white. 

a^.  Tail  forked 106.  Leach's  Petrel. 

b^.  Tail  square. 
5'.  Webs  of  feet  marked  with  yellow ;  upper  tail-coverts  not  tipped 

with  black 109.  Wilson's  Petrel. 

b^.  Webs  of  feet  without  yellow ;  tail-coverts  tipped  with  black. 

104.  Stormy  Petrel. 

b.  Upper  tail-coverts  grayish  or  brownish. 

b^.  Entire  under  parts  brownish 101.  Bulwer's  Petrel. 

b^.  Breast  grayish 110.  White-bellied  Petrel. 

¥.  Entire  under  parts  white 111.  White-faced  Petrel. 

86.  Fulmarus  glacialis  (Linn.).  Fulmar;  Noddy  (see  Fig.  9,  b). 
Light  phase. — Head,  neck,  and  under  parts  white  or  whitish  ;  back,  wings, 
and  tail  slaty  gray.  Darlc  jyhase. — Entire  plumage  nearly  uniform  dark,  slaty 
gray.    L.,  19-00 ;  W.,  13-04 ;  B.,  1-50 ;  depth  of  B.  at  base,  -75  (Pddgw.). 

Range. — North  Atlantic ;  south  in  winter  on  the  American  coast  to  Massa- 
chusetts ;  accidental  in  northern  New  Jersey. 

Nest.,  on  the  ledges  of  rocky  cliffs.     Egg.,  one,  dull  white,  2-85  x  2-01. 

"  The  Fulmar  is  a  constant  attendant  on  whalers,  sealers,  etc. — who 
know  it  as  the  '  Mollimoke ' — in  order  to  obtain  fatty  substances  and 
animal  offal ;  but  I  never  saw  it  take  any  while  on  the  wing,  and  it 
always  settles  on  the  water  to  feed,  like  an  Albatross.  The  pinions 
are  often  flapped  slowly  in  an  owl-like  manner,  but  in  scudding  they 
are  held  very  straight — a  peculiarity  by  which  it  may  easily  be  distin- 
guished from  a  Gull  at  a  distance  "  (Saunders). 

86ai.  F.  g.  minor  Kjaerb.  Lesser  Fulmar;  Noddy.  "Similar  in 
color  to  F.  glacialis,  but  much  smaller.  W.,  11-80-12-00;  B.,  1-30-1-38; 
depth  of  B.  at  base,  •60--70." 

Range. — "  North  Atlantic,  south  on  American  side  to  coast  of  New  Eng- 
land "  (kidgw.). 


88  SHEARWATERS  AND   PETRELS. 

88.  Puffinus  borealis  Cory.  Cory's  Sheabwater.  .4t^.— Upper 
parts  ashy  fuscous,  wings  and  tail  darker;  sides  of  head  and  neck  slightly 
lighter ;  under  parts  white,  sometimes  washed  with  grayish  on  the  breast ; 
under  wing-coverts  and  under  tail-coverts  white^  the  latter  more  or  less  mot- 
tled with  grayish  ;  bill  yellowish.    L.,  21-00  ;  W.,  14-00 ;  Tar.,  2-20  ;  B.,  2-10. 

Range. — Known  as  yet  only  oif  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Massachusetts  to 
Long  Island. 

Long  Island,  uncommon  from  Aug.  to  Oct. 
Nest  and  etjgs  unknown. 

Cory's  Shearwater  has  been  found  as  a  not  uncommon  summer 
visitant  off  the  coast  of  Massachusetts,  but  its  range  is  unknown. 

89.  Puffinus  major  Faber.  Greater  Shearwater  ;  Hagdon.  Ad. 
— Upper  parts  fuscous,  wings  and  tail  slightly  darker ;  longer  upper  tail- 
coverts  tipped  with  whitish  ;  under  parts  white  ;  belly  more  or  less  ashy  gray  ; 
under  tail-coverts  ashy  gray  ;  bill  blackish.  L.,  20-00  ;  W.,  12-25  ;  Tar.,  2-20; 
B.,  1-85. 

i?a«^e.—"  Atlantic  Ocean,  south  to  Cape  Horn  and  Cape  of  Good  Hope" 
(A.  0.  U.) ;  north  to  Greenland. 

Long  Island,  uncommon  in  summer. 
Nest  and  eggs  unknown. 

"  The  long,  narrow  wings  are  set  stiffly  at  right  angles  with  the 
body,  and  the  bird  frequently  glides  half  a  mile  at  a  time  without 
moving  them  perceptibly.  It  usually  follows  a  direct  course,  and  in- 
variably skims  close  over  the  waves.  I  know  of  no  other  sea  bird 
whose  movements  are  as  easy  and  graceful.  Indeed,  at  times,  espe- 
cially during  a  gale,  its  evolutions  will  compare  in  grace  and  spirit 
with  those  of  the  Mississippi  or  Swallow-tailed  Kites  "  (Brewster). 

Manx's  Shearwater  {90.  Puffinus  puffinus)  resembles  the  next  in  color, 
but  is  larger.  W.,  8-50-9-25  ;  B.,  1-35-1-40  ;  depth  of  B.  through  base,  •40--45  ; 
Tar.,  1-70-1-80  "  (B.,  B.,  and  K.).  It  is  a  European  species  of  exceedingly  rare 
or  accidental  occurrence  on  the  North  Atlantic  coast. 

92.  Puffinus  auduboni  Finsch.  Audubon's  Shearwater.  Ad. — 
Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  dark,  sooty,  brownish  black  ;  under  parts  white ; 
sides  of  the  breast  grayish  ;  a  patch  on  the  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts  sooty 
brownish  black  ;  inner  side  of  tarsi  yellowish,  outer  brownish  ;  bill  blackish. 
L.,  12-00;  W.,  8-00;  Tar.,  1-60;  B.,  1-20. 

Range. — Warmer  parts  of  the  Atlantic, north  rarely  to  Long  Island ;  breeds 
in  the  Antilles  and  Bahamas,  but  not,  so  far  as  known,  on  our  coasts. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest.^  of  a  few  bits  of  sticks  in  a  hole  in  the  rocks.  Egg^  one,  chalky 
white,  2-05  x  1-40. 

An  abundant  West  Indian  species  which  breeds  in  the  Bahamas 
md  Antilles,  and  is  doubtless  not  uncommon  off  our  southern  coasts. 


SHEARWATERS  AND   PETRELS.  89 

Its  flight,  low  over  the  water,  is  strong  and  swift,  five  or  six  rapid 
wing-beats  being  followed  by  a  short  sail. 

94.  PuflBnus  stricklandi  Bidgw.  Sooty  Shearwater;  Black 
Hagdon.  Ad. — Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  dark,  sooty,  brownish  black  ; 
under  parts  somewhat  grayer ;  bill  blackish.  L.,  17*00;  VV.,  12-00;  Tar.,  2-10; 
B.,  1-65. 

Range. — As  far  as  known.  North  Atlantic ;  south  on  the  American  coast 
to  South  Carolina. 

Long  Island,  uncommon  in  summer. 

Nest  and  eggs  unknown. 

"  Its  flight  and  habits  seem  to  be  identical  with  those  of  major,  but 
its  uniform  dark  coloring  gives  it  a  very  different  appearance.  At  a 
distance  it  looks  as  black  as  a  Crow  "  (Brewster). 

The  Black-capped  Petrel  {98.  jEstrelata  hasitata)  is  a  southern  species, 
which  has  been  found  on  Long  Island,  in  Florida,  West  Virginia,  and  Ver- 
mont. It  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  Puffinus  major.,  but  is  much  smaller 
and  has  the  upper  and  under  tail-coverts  white. 

The  Scaled  Petrel  {99.  vEstrelata  scalaris)  is  known  from  one  individual 
which  had  wandered  to  western  New  York.  Its  true  home  has  not  been  dis- 
covered, but  is  doubtless  in  the  Antarctic  Ocean. 

Bulwer's  Petrel  {101.  Bulweria  bulweri)  inhabits  the  eastern  Atlanti(? 
Ocean,  including  the  coasts  of  Europe  and  Africa,  and  is  of  accidental  occur- 
rence in  Greenland. 

104.  Procellaria  pelagica  Linn.  Stormy  Petrel.  ^<^.— Upper 
parts,  wings,  and  tail  sooty  black  ;  under  parts  slightly  browner  ;  upper  tail- 
coverts  white,  the  longer  ones  broadly  tipped  with  hlach  ;  under  tail-coverts 
mixed  with  whitish  ;  bill  and  feet  black.     L.,  5*50 ;  W.,  4-80  ;  T.,  2-50  ;  B.,  -45. 

Range. — ''  Atlantic  Ocean,  south  on  the  American  side  to  the  Newfound- 
land Banks,  west  coast  of  Africa  and  coast  of  Europe  "  (A.  O.  U.). 

Nest.^  of  a  few  bits  of  sticks  and  grasses  in  a  burrow  in  the  ground  or  be- 
neath a  rock.  Egg,  one,  dull  white,  sometimes  with  a  wreath  of  minute  or 
obscure  markings  at  the  larger  end,  1*10  x  -80. 

This  is  the  common  Stormy  Petrel  of  the  east  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
It  nests  in  numbers  on  the  small  islands  along  the  coast  of  Great 
Britain,  but  is  only  a  transient  visitant  in  our  waters.  It  resembles 
the  two  following  species  in  habits. 

106.  Oceanodroma  leucorhoa  (  Vieill.).  Leach's  Petrel.  Ad. 
—Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  sooty  brown ;  under  parts  slightly  browner ; 
wing-coverts  grayish  brown;  longer  upper  tail-coverts  white,  shorter  ones 
mixed  with  sooty  brownish  ;  tail  forked^  outer  feathers  more  than  -50  longer 
than  middle  pair ;  bill  and  feet  black.    L.,  8*00 ;  W.,  6-20 ;  T.,  3-50  ;  B.,  -62. 

Range.— '•'•  North  Atlantic  and  North  Pacific  Oceans ;  south  on  the  coast 
of  the  United  States  to  Virginia  and  California ;  breeds  from  Maine  and  the 
Hebrides  northward  on  the  coasts  of  the  Atlantic  "  (A.  0.  U.). 


90  SHEARWATERS  AND   PETRELS. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  several  records.  Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V.,  May 
and  June.     Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  instance,  Oct. 

jVest,  of  a  few  bits  of  sticks  and  grasses  in  a  burrow  in  the  ground,  or  be- 
neath a  rock,  ^^ffg,  one,  creamy  white,  sometimes  with  a  wreath  of  minute  or 
obscure  markings  at  the  larger  end,  1*34  x  1-00. 

"  This  is  a  bird  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  being  as  common  on 
the  Pacific  Ocean  as  on  the  Atlantic.  Its  chief  breeding  station  on  our 
shores  is  among  the  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy ;  but 
the  open  ocean  is  the  bird's  true  home. 

"  Leach's  Petrels  are  seldom  seen  about  their  nesting  site  during 
the  day,  though  in  the  evening  they  assemble  there ;  and  when  flut- 
tering through  the  twilight  or  under  the  moon's  guidance  they  have 
the  appearance  of  a  foraging  squad  of  bats,  though  the  birds'  wild, 
plaintive  notes  betray  their  race.  The  Petrels  are  not  strictly  noc- 
turnal, however,  for  while  one  of  a  pair  sits  close  on  the  nest  all  day — 
and  this  one  has  been  generally  the  male,  in  my  experience — the  mate 
is  out  at  sea. 

"  When  handled,  these  birds  emit  from  mouth  and  nostrils  a  small 
quantity  of  oil-like  fluid  of  a  reddish  color  and  pungent,  musklike 
odor.  The  air  at  the  nesting  site  is  strongly  impregnated  with  this 
odor,  and  it  guides  a  searcher  to  the  nest  "  (Chamberlain). 

109.  Oceanites  oceanicus  {KuM).  Wilson's  Petrel.  Ad. —  Up- 
per parts,  wings,  and  tail  sooty  black ;  under  parts  somewhat  lighter ;  under 
tail-coverts  mixed  with  whitish,  longer  upper  tail-coverts  white,  shorter  ones 
marked  with  sooty  black  ;  wing-coverts  grayish,  margined  with  whitish  ;  bill 
and  feet  black,  the  webs  of  the  latter  mostly  yellow.  L.,  7*00 ;  W.,  5-90  ;  T., 
2-80 ;  B.,  -50. 

^05^(76.— Atlantic  Ocean  ;  breeds  in  southern  seas  (Kerguelen  Island)  and 
migrates  northward,  spending  the  summer  off  our  coasts. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  one  record.     Long  Island,  common  from  May  to  Sept. 

Nest.,  in  the  crevices  of  rocks.     Egg.,  one,  white. 

It  is  generally  known  that  some  birds  which  nest  in  the  northern 
parts  of  our  continent,  in  the  winter  migrate  as  far  south  as  Patago- 
nia; but  comparatively  few  are  aware  that  during  the  summer  we 
receive  several  visitors  from  the  southern  parts  of  the  southern  hemi- 
sphere. They  are  all  included  in  the  family  Procellariidce,  and  Wil- 
son's Petrel  is  doubtless  the  most  common.  It  breeds  in  the  islands 
of  the  Soath  Atlantic  in  February,  and  after  the  cares  of  the  breeding 
season  are  over  migrates  northward  to  pass  its  winter  off  our  coasts. 
At  this  season  its  home  is  the  sea,  and  its  occurrence  on  land  is  gener- 
ally due  to  storms.  For  this  reason,  and  because  of  its  long  migra- 
tion, it  is  the  Petrel  most  frequently  observed  in  western  Atlantic 
waters  during  the  summer. 


TROPIC   BIRDS.  91 

Under  the  name  of  "  Stormy  Petrel,"  or  "  Mother  Carey's  Chicken," 
they  are  familiar  to  most  people  who  have  made  sea  voyages.  On 
tireless  wing  they  follow  in  the  track  of  a  ship,  coursing  ceaselessly 
back  and  forth,  now  beneath  the  stern,  now  hovering  over  the  foam- 
flecked  wake,  reminding  one  of  white-rumped  Martins  in  their  easy, 
graceful  flight.  If  food  be  thrown  overboard,  they  are  at  once  attracted 
to  it,  and  soon  are  left  far  behind,  a  little  group  of  black,  fluttering 
forms  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean.  The  meal  disposed  of,  a  few  rapid 
wing-beats  bring  them  to  us,  and  again  they  resume  their  patient  beat- 
ing to  and  fro. 

The  White-bellied  Petrel  {110.  Cymodroma  grallaria)  is  a  tropical 
species  which  has  been  taken  once  in  North  America — at  St.  Marks,  Florida. 

The  White- FACED  Petrel  {HI.  Felagodroma  marina)  inhabits  the  South 
Atlantic  and  southern  seas.  It  is  of  casual  occurrence  ofi'the  coast  of  Massa- 
chusetts. It  may  be  distinguished  from  any  of  our  small  Petrels  by  its  white 
under  parts. 


ORDER  STEGANOFODES.    TOTIPALMATE  SWIMMERS. 

Family  Phaethontid^.    Tropic  Birds. 

The  three  species  composing  this  small  but  distinct  family  are 
found  throughout  the  tropical  and  subtropical  regions  of  the  world. 
They  are  littoral  rather  than  pelagic,  but  make  long  journeys  across 
the  open  sea.  Their  flight  when  migrating  is  strong,  rapid,  and  direct. 
In  feeding,  they  course  over  the  water,  beating  back  and  forth  at  a 
height  of  about  forty  feet.  Their  long,  willowy  tail-feathers  add 
greatly  to  the  grace  and  beauty  of  their  appearance  when  on  the  wing. 

112.  Phaethon  fiavirostris  Brandt.  Yellow-billed  Tropic 
Bird  (see  Fig.  11).  ^^6^.— White;  a  mark  before  and  through  the  eye;  outer 
web  of  primaries,  lesser  wing-coverts,  and  tertials  black  ;  Hanks  streaked  with 
slate  ;  bill  yellow  ;  tail  tinged- with  salmon,  shafts  of  the  feathers  black.  W., 
10-75  ;  T.,  19-00  ;  B.,  2-00. 

Range. — Tropical  coasts  ;  Atlantic  coasts  of  tropical  America,  West  Indies, 
Bahamas,  Bermudas  ;  casual  in  Florida  and  accidental  in  western  New  York 
and  Nova  Scotia. 

This  species  breeds  abundantly  in  the  limestone  cliffs  of  the  Ber- 
mudas, but  is  of  rare  and  probably  accidental  occurrence  on  our  coasts. 

The  Eed-billed  Tropic  Bird  {113.  Phaethon  cethereus)  resembles  the 
preceding  species,  but  has  the  bill  red  and  the  upper  parts  finely  barred  with 
black.  Its  range  in  the  Atlantic  is  more  southern  than  that  of  the  Yellow- 
billed  Tropic  Bird,  and  in  eastern  North  America  it  is  accidental.  The  only 
record  of  its  occurrence  is  off  the  Newfoundland  Banks. 


92  GANNETS. 

Family  Sulid^.    Gannets. 

The  Gannets  number  about  eight  species,  of  which  one  is  northern 
while  the  remaining  seven  are  distributed  throughout  the  tropical  and 
subtropical  coasts  of  the  world.  They  are  strictly  maritime,  but,  ex- 
cept when  migrating,  do  not  venture  far  from  land.  Their  flight  is 
strong  and  rapid,  the  vigorous  strokes  of  the  wing  being  interrupted 
at  intervals  by  a  short  sail.  They  obtain  their  food  of  fish  by  plung- 
ing for  it  from  the  air.  The  northern  species  is  migatory  ;  the  others 
are  roving,  but  all  return  with  regularity  to  their  nesting  places,  gen- 
erally on  some  inaccessible  islet,  where,  during  the  breeding  season, 
they  may  be  found  associated  in  large  numbers. 

115.  Sula  Siila  {Linn.).  Booby.  (See  Fig.  12.)  Ad. — Breast  and 
belly  white,  sometimes  washed  with  grayish ;  rest  of  the  plumage  brownish 
fuscous ;  head  and  neck  sometimes  streaked  with  grayish  brown  and  white ; 
bill  and  feet  yellowish,  /m.— Entire  plumage  brownish  fuscous,  lighter  be- 
low ;  bill  blackish,  feet  yellow.     L.,  30-00  ;  W.,  15-50  :  T.,  8-00  ;  B.,  3-80. 

Range. — "  Coasts  of  tropical  and  subtropical  America,  north  to  Georgia." 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest.,  on  the  shore  of  a  barren  islet.     Eggs.,  two,  chalky  white,  2-30  x  1-55. 

This  inhabitant  of  barren  shores  and  lonely  islets  is  a  summer 
visitant  to  the  Florida  keys.  It  is  a  strong  flier,  and  when  on  the 
wing  reminds  one  of  both  a  Cormorant  and  a  Gull. 

The  Blue-faced  Booby  {114-  Sula  cyanops)  is  found  in  the  "  South  Pa- 
cific, West  Indies,  and  northward  to  Florida,"  but  there  are  no  recent  records 
of  its  occurrence  in  the  last-named  locality. 

The  Eed-footed  Booby  {116.  Sula  piscator)  inhabits  the  coasts  and 
islands  of  tropical  and  subtropical  seas,  north  to  western  Mexico,  and  is  said 
to  occur  in  Florida,  but,  like  S.  cyanops.,  it  is  of  accidental  occurrence  within 
our  limits. 

117.  Sula  bassana  (Z*n«.).  Gannet.  Ad. — White,  head  and  neck 
tinged  with  pale  straw-yellow;  primaries  fuscous.  Int. — Throat  and  upper 
parts,  including  wing-coverts,  dark  grayish  brown,  each  feather  with  a  small 
white  wedge-shaped  spot;  breast  and  belly  white,  margined  with  grayish 
brown.    L.,  35-00 ;  W.,  19-00  ;  T.,  9-50  ;  B.,  4-00. 

Range. — "  Coasts  of  the  North  Atlantic,  south  in  winter  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  and  Africa ;  breeds  from  Nova  Scotia  and  the  British  Islands  north- 
ward." 

Long  Island,  T.  V.,  May  ;  Oct.  and  Nov. ;  a  few  winter. 

Nest.,  on  rocky  cliffs.  Egg.,  one,  pale  bluish  white,  overlaid  by  a  chalky 
deposit,  more  or  less  soiled  and  stained,  3-20  x  1-90. 

"  The  birds  are  usually  associated  in  small,  straggling  flocks,  and 
with  outstretched  necks,  and  eyes  ever  on  the  lookout  for  fish,  they  fly 
at  a  height  of  from  seventy-five  to  a  hundred  feet  above  the  water,  or 


DARTERS.  93 

occasionally  somewhat  more.  The  height  at  which  the  Gannet  flies 
above  the  water  is  proportioned  to  the  depth  at  which  the  fish  are 
swimming  beneath,  and  Captain  Collins  tells  me  that  when  fish  are 
swimming  near  the  surface  the  Gannet  flies  very  low  and  darts  ob- 
liquely instead  of  vertically  upon  his  prey.  Should  any  finny  game 
be  seen  within  range,  down  goes  the  Gannet  headlong,  the  nearly 
closed  wings  being  used  to  guide  the  living  arrow  in  its  downward 
flight.  Just  above  the  surface  the  wings  are  firmly  closed,  and  a  small 
splash  of  spray  shows  where  the  winged  fisher  cleaves  the  water  to 
transfix  his  prey.  Disappearing  for  a  few  seconds,  the  bird  reappears, 
rests  for  a  moment  on  the  water,  long  enough  to  swallow  his  catch, 
and  then  rises  in  pursuit  of  other  game  "  (Lucas,  Rep.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
1891,  p.  712). 

Family  Anhingid^.     Darters. 

There  are  four  species  of  Darters  or  Snakebirds,  one  each  in  Africa, 
southern  Asia,  Australia,  and  tropical  and  subtropical  America.  They 
are  silent  birds,  generally  living  in  pairs  on  bodies  of  fresh  water  with 
wooded  shores.  They  select  a  perch  over  the  water,  and  when  alarmed 
sometimes  drop  into  the  element  below  and  disappear  beneath  its  sur- 
face, or  fly  upward  to  a  considerable  height  and  circle  about  like  sail- 
ing Hawks.  They  swim  well,  and  when  approached  too  closely  quietly 
sink  backward,  frequently  leaving  the  long,  thin  neck  and  narrow, 
pointed  head  above  the  surface,  when  one  at  once  observes  the  origin 
of  the  name  "Snakebird."  They  obtain  their  food  by  pursuing  it 
under  water,  and  their  finely  serrated  bill  assists  them  in  retaining 
their  hold  upon  it. 

118.  Anhinga>  smhingSL  (Linn.).  Anhinga;  Snakebird;  Watek 
Turkey.  (See  Fig.  13.)  Ad.  S  in  summer. — General  plumage  glossy  black 
with  greenish  reflections ;  back  of  the  head  and  neck  with  scattered  grayish 
plumes ;  upper  back  with  numerous  elongated  silvery  white  spots,  which  on 
the  scapulars  become  streaks ;  lesser  wing-coverts  spotted  like  the  back ;  ex- 
posed portion  of  median  and  greater  coverts  silvery  gray ;  tail  tipped  with 
whitish,  the  outer  webs  of  the  middle  pair  of  feathers  with  transverse  flutings. 
Ad.  S  in  winter. — Similar,  but  without  the  grayish  plumes  on  the  head  and 
neck.  Ad.  9  . — Similar  to  S ,  hut  with  the  whole  head,  neck,  and  breast 
brownish,  darker  above.  Jm. — Similar  to  9  ,  but  with  the  black  parts  of  the 
plumage  brownish.     L.,  34-00  ;  W.,  13-50  ;  T.,  10-50 ;  B.,  3-25. 

-Range. — Tropical  and  subtropical  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  south- 
ern Illinois  and  South  Carolina ;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  southward. 

JVest,  of  sticks  lined  with  moss,  rootlets,  etc.,  over  the  water  in  a  bush  or 
tree.     F^gs,  two  to  four,  bluish  white  with  a  chalky  deposit,  2-15  x  1-35. 

This  singular  bird  is  common  in  the  Gulf  States.  It  has  the 
habits  of  other  members  of  this  small  family. 


94  CORMORANTS. 

Family  Phalacrocoracid^.    Cormorants. 

Cormorants  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  Ten  of  the  thirty 
known  species  inhabit  North  America.  As  a  rule  they  are  maritime, 
but  they  also  frequent  bodies  of  fresh  water  far  from  the  seacoast. 
They  are  gregarious  at  all  times  of  the  year  and  breed  in  large  colo- 
nies. Their  flight  is  strong  and  ducklike,  but,  except  when  migrat- 
ing, is  generally  not  far  above  the  surface  of  the  water.  They  secure 
their  food  of  fish  by  pursuing  it  under  water,  their  hooked  bill  assist- 
ing them  in  its  capture.  Unlike  the  Gannets,  they  do  not  dive  from 
the  air,  but  from  the  water  or  a  low  perch. 

119.  Phalacrocorax  carbo  {Linn.).  Cormorant;  Shag.  (See 
Fig.  10.)  Ad.  in  breeding  plumage. — Region  about  the  base  of  the  lower  man- 
dible white  or  whitish ;  head,  upper  neck,  and  throat  glossy  black,  thickly 
sprinkled  with  white ;  rest  of  the  neck,  under  parts,  and  rump  glossy  black  ; 
a  white  patch  on  the  flanks;  upper  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts  light 
olive-brown,  each  feather  bordered  by  glossy  black ;  tail  black,  composed  of 
fourteen  feathers.  Ad.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  without  white  on  the  head. 
Im. — Top  of  the  head  and  hind  neck  brownish  black  ;  upper  back,  scapulars, 
and  wing-coverts  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  bordered  by  blackish ;  rump 
glossy  black ;  throat  and  breast  grayish  brown,  changing  to  white  on  the 
belly;  sides  and  under  tail-coverts  glossy  black.  L.,  36-00;  W.,  14-00;  T., 
7-00 ;  B.,  3-00. 

Range. — "  Coasts  of  the  North  Atlantic,  south  in  winter  on  the  coast  of 
the  United  States  casually  to  the  Carolinas "  (A.  O.  U.).  Breeds  from  the 
Bay  of  Fundy  to  northern  Greenland. 

Long  Island,  regular  T.  V.  in  limited  numbers. 

Nest.,  of  sticks  and  seaweed,  in  colonies  generally  on  the  ledges  of  rocky 
cliffs.  Eggs.^  four  to  six,  pale  bluish  white,  more  or  less  overlaid  with  a  chalky 
deposit,  2-50  x  1-50. 

This  northern  species  is  of  uncommon  occurrence  on  our  coast 
south  of  its  breeding  range. 

120*  Phalacrocoras  dilophus  {Sw.  and  Mch.).  Double-crested 
Cormorant.  Ad.  in  breeding  plitmage.^'H.ead.i  neck,  rump,  and  under  parts 
glossy  black  ;  upper  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts  light  grayish  brown, 
each  feather  margined  with  glossy  black  ;  tail  black,  composed  of  twelve  feath- 
ers ;  SL  tuft  of  black  feathers  on  either  side  of  the  head.  Ad.  in  winter. — 
Similar,  but  without  tufts  on  the  head.  Im. — Top  of  the  head  and  back  of 
the  neck  blackish  brown  ;  upper  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts  brownish 
gray,  each  feather  margined  with  black  ;  rump  glossy  black ;  sides  of  the 
head  and  fore  neck  grayish  white,  whiter  on  the  breast  and  changing  gradu- 
ally to  black  on  the  lower  belly.     L.,  30-00  ;  W.,  12-50  ;  T.,  6-20 ;  B.,  2-30. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  Dakota,  and  the  Bay  of 
Fundy  northward  ;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  and  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  casual,  several  records.    Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  Apl. 


PELICANS.  95 

and  May ;  Aug.  to  Nov.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V.,  June.     Cambridge,  casual,  one 
instance,  Sept. 

Nest^  of  sticlis,  seaweed,  etc.,  on  tlie  ledges  of  clift's,  low  bushes,  bushy 
trees,  or  on  the  ground.  Eggs^  two  to  four,  similar  in  color  to  those  of  the 
preceding,  2-40  x  1-40. 

This  is  the  common  Cormorant  of  the  middle  Eastern  States.  We 
see  it  chiefly  as  migrant  when  in  flocks  of  varying  size  it  passes  far 
overhead,  or  pauses  to  rest  on  our  shores.  In  migrating  the  flock 
is  formed  in  a  long  line,  comparatively  few  birds  deep.  On  the  wing 
they  bear  a  general  resemblance  to  large  Ducks. 

130a/«  P.  d.  florida/UUS  {Aud.).  Florida  Cormorant.  Eesembles 
the  preceding  species  in  color,  but  is  smaller.     W.,  12'00 ;  T.,  5*50 ;  B.,  2'10. 

This  is  an  abundant  bird  on  the  Florida  coast  and  westward  along 
the  shores  of  the  Gulf.  Almost  every  buoy  in  the  harbors  of  Florida 
is  capped  by  a  Cormorant.  They  are  shy  birds,  but  may  easily  be  se- 
cured by  placing  traps  on  the  buoys  or  snags,  to  which  they  regularly 
return  to  roost. 

The  Mexican  Cormorant  {121.  Phalacrocorax  mexicanus) — a  species 
found  on  the  west  Gulf  coast  and  southward — sometimes  wanders  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi as  far  as  Illinois. 

Family  Pelecanid^.    Pelicans. 

The  twelve  known  species  of  Pelicans  are  distributed  throughout 
the  warmer  parts  of  the  world.  Three  species  are  North  American, 
of  which  two  are  exclusively  maritime,  while  the  third  is  found  both 
on  the  coast  and  in  the  interior.  Pelicans  are  gregarious  and  nest  in 
large  colonies.  Their  flight  is  strong  but  leisurely,  six  or  seven  wing- 
strokes  being  followed  by  a  short  sail,  all  the  members  of  a  flock  flap- 
ping and  sailing  in  unison.  They  feed  on  fish,  for  which  some  species 
plunge  from  the  air,  while  others  capture  small  fry  with  their  scoop- 
like pouches  while  swimming. 

125.  Pelecanus  erjrthrorhynchus  Gmel.  American  White 
Pelican.  Ad.  in  breeding  plumage. — White,  primaries  black,  whitish  at 
the  base  ;  an  occipital  crest  and  a  horny  prominence  on  the  bill.  Ad.  in 
winter. — -Similar,  but  without  the  crest  or  horny  prominence.  Im. — Similar, 
but  top  of  the  head  brownish  gray.  L.,  60*00;  W.,  22-00;  Tar.,  4*50;  B., 
14-00. 

Bange.—l:^orth  America,  now  rare  or  accidental  on  the  Atlantic  coast; 
breeds  from  southern  Minnesota  northward ;  winters  along  the  Gulf  coast. 

Washington,  casual,  four  records.     Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest.!  of  small  sticks,  on  the  ground.  Eggs^  two  to  four,  creamy  or  bluish 
white  with  a  chalky  deposit,  more  or  less  stained,  3-45  x  2-30. 


96  PELICANS. 

The  White  Pelican  winters  in  numbers  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  Florida 
and  westward,  but  rarely  occurs  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  Its  snowy 
white  plumage  renders  it  conspicuous  at  a  great  distance,  and  a  far- 
away Pelican  on  the  water  is  sometimes  mistaken  for  a  distant  sail. 

The  White  Pelican  catches  his  food  while  swimming.  A  flock  of 
Pelicans  will  sometimes  surround  a  school  of  small  fry  and  with  beat- 
ing wings  drive  them  toward  the  shore,  all  the  time  eagerly  scooping 
the  unfortunate  fish  into  their  great  pouches.  At  the  conclusion  of  a 
successful  "  drive "  they  go  ashore  or  rest  quietly  on  the  water  and 
devour  their  prey  at  leisure. 

They  migrate  by  day — and  perhaps  by  night  also — flying  at  a  great 
height,  and  sometimes  pausing  to  sail  in  wide  circles  far  up  in  the  sky. 

1S6.  Pelecanus  fuscus  Linn.  Brown  Pelican.  Ad.  in  breed- 
ing plumage. — Top  of  the  head  and  a  spot  on  the  upper  breast  straw-yellow  ; 
line  down  either  side  of  the  breast  white  ;  hind  head,  neck,  and  a  spot  on  the 
fore  neck  seal-brown ;  sides  and  back  silvery  gray  bordered  by  brownish 
black  ;  scapulars,  wing-coverts,  secondaries,  and  tail  silvery  gray ;  primaries 
black ;  under  parts  dark  blackish  brown  narrowly  streaked  with  white.  Ad. 
after  the  breeding  season. — Similar,  but  with  the  hind  head  and  whole  neck 
white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  straw-yellow.  Im. — Similar  to  the  preceding, 
but  the  head  and  neck  grayish  and  rest  of  the  plumage  duller.  L.,  50-00 ; 
W.,  19-50 ;  Tar.,  2-65  ;  B.,  11-00. 

Range. — Atlantic  coast  of  tropical  and  subtropical  America ;  breeds  abun- 
dantly along  the  Gulf  coast  and  northward  to  South  Carolina ;  occasionally 
strays  to  Illinois  and  Massachusetts. 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest.,  of  sticks,  in  mangrove  bushes  or  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  two  to  five, 
similar  in  color  to  those  of  the  preceding  species,  3-00  x  1*95. 

Brown  Pelicans  are  abundant  residents  on  the  Florida  and  Gulf 
coast.  They  are  generally  seen  in  flocks  of  four  to  eight  birds  flying 
one  after  the  other.  The  leader  beats  time,  as  it  were,  and  they  all 
flap  in  unison  for  a  certain  number  of  wing-beats,  then  sail  for  a  short 
distance,  and  then  flap  again.  The  coast  line  is  their  favorite  high- 
way to  and  from  their  roosts  or  nesting  grounds.  They  fly  low  over 
the  water  just  outside  the  breakers,  following  the  trough  of  the  sea — 
now  disappearing  behind  the  advancing  wall  of  water,  now  reappear- 
ing as  the  wave  breaks  on  the  shore. 

Unlike  the  White  Pelican,  this  species  secures  his  prey  by  diving. 
Singly,  in  pairs,  or  in  small  flocks,  they  beat  back  and  forth,  generally 
about  twenty  feet  above  the  water,  and  when  opportunity  offers  plunge 
downward  with  such  force  that  the  spray  dashes  high  about  them,  and 
the  resulting  splash  may  be  heard  a  half  a  mile.  They  sometimes 
catch  fish  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  in  length,  but  as  a  rule  feed  on 
smaller  ones. 


1.  Baldpate. 

2.  Green-winged  Teal. 

3.  Blue-winged  Teal. 

4.  Shoveler. 

5.  Pintail. 


6.  Wood  Duck. 

7.  Redhead. 

8.  Canvasback. 

9.  Am.  Scaup  Duck. 
10.  Am.  Golden-eye. 


11.  Bufflehead. 

12.  Old  Squaw. 

13.  Greenland  Eider. 

14.  White-winged  Scoter. 

15.  Ruddy  Duck. 


MAN-O'-WAR  BIRDS.  97 


Family  Fregatid^.     Man-o'-war  Birds. 

Man-o'-war  Birds,  or  Frigate  Birds,  are  found  throughout  inter- 
tropical seas.  One  of  the  two  known  species  occurs  in  America.  They 
are  strictly  maritime,  and,  while  sometimes  observed  at  great  distances 
from  the  land,  are  met  with  in  numbers  only  near  the  coasts.  They 
have  a  greater  expanse  of  wing  in  proportion  to  the  weight  of  their 
body  than  any  other  bird,  and  in  power  of  flight  are  unsurpassed. 
They  rarely  alight  upon  the  water,  but,  facing  the  wind,  pass  hours 
resting  motionless  on  outstretched  wings,  sometimes  ascending  to 
great  heights  and  calmly  soaring  far  above  storms.  It  is  when  feed- 
ing that  their  marvelous  aerial  powers  are  displayed  to  the  best  advan- 
tage. By  swift,  indescribably  graceful  darts  they  secure  fish  which 
are  near  the  surface  or  capture  those  which  have  leaped  from  the  water 
to  escape  some  enemy  below.  They  also  pursue  Gulls  and  Terns,  and, 
forcing  them  to  disgorge  their  prey,  catch  it  in  midair.  As  a  rule  they 
are  gregarious  at  all  seasons,  and  nest  and  roost  on  bushes  near  the 
shore. 

128*  Fregata  aquila  {Linn.).     Man-o'-war  Bird;  Frigate  Bird. 

(See  Fig.  15.)  Ad.  $  . — Entire  plumage  black,  more  glossy  above.  9  . — Simi- 
lar, but  browner ;  lesser  wing-coverts  grayish  brown ;  breast  and  upper  belly 
white.  Im. — Similar  to  the  9  ,  but  whole  head  and  neck  white.  L.,  40-00 ; 
W.,  25-00 ;  T.,  17-00 ;  B.,  4-50. 

Range. — Tropical  and  subtropical  coasts  generally;  in  America  north  to 
Florida,  Texas,  and  California,  and  casually  to  Kansas,  Ohio,  and  Nova  Scotia, 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest.^  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  on  bushes  or  rocks.  Egg.,  one,  chalky  white, 
2-65  X  1-75. 

This  species  is  not  uncommon  on  the  coasts  of  southern  Florida, 
but.  does  not,  so  far  as  I  know,  nest  there.  It  resembles  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  in  habits. 


OB.DEB  ANSERES.    LAMELLIROSTRAL  SWIMMERS. 

Family  Anatid^.    Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans. 

The  two  hundred  species  included  in  this  family  are  placed  in  the 
five  subfamilies,  Mergince,  or  Mergansers,  Anatinm  or  River  Ducks, 
Fuligulinm  or  Sea  Ducks,  Anserince  or  Geese,  and  Cygninm  or  Swans. 
The  characters  given  in  the  Key  to  Families  should  enable  one  to 
easily  refer  a  specimen  to  its  proper  group.  These  subfamilies  are  so 
well  defined  that  it  seems  advisable  to  treat  of  each  one  separately. 
8 


98  MERGANSERS. 

Aside  from  the  general  remarks  at  the  head  of  each  subfamily  I 
can  add  little  which  will  aid  in  the  identification  of  the  species  in  the 
field.  Ducks  are  shy  creatures,  and  familiarity  with  their  habits  is 
gained  only  by  long  experience. 

Suhfamily  MergincB.    Mergansers. 

The  Shelldrakes  or  Sawbills  are  fish-eating  Ducks.  They  pursue 
and  capture  their  prey  under  water,  and  their  serrate  bills  seem  espe- 
cially adapted  to  this  mode  of  feeding.  The  flesh  of  adult  Sheldrakes 
is  rank  and  fishy;  but  the  Hooded  Merganser  is  an  excellent  table 
Duck. 

KEY   TO    SPECIES. 

A.  Bill  under  1-75,  wing  8-00  or  under     ....     131.  Hooded  Mebganser. 
£.  Bill  over  1-75,  wing  over  8-00. 

a.  Head  and  throat  black. 

ai.  Breast  and  belly  white,  tinged  with  salmon. 

129.  Am.  Merganser  (  $  ad.). 
a".  Breast  brownish,  thickly  streaked  and  spotted  with  black. 

130.  Red-breasted  Merganser  (  S  ad.). 

b.  Head  and  sides  of  the  neck  rich  rufous- brown ;  distance  from  nostril 
to  end  of  bill  less  than  1-50  .     .     .     .    129.  Am.  Merganser  (  9  and  im.). 

c.  Crown  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  washed  with  cinnamon-rufous ;  sides 
of  the  neck  cinnamon-rufous ;  distance  from  nostril  to  end  of  bill  over 
1-50 130.  Eed-breasted  Merganser  (  9  and  im.). 

129*  Merganser  a/Xnericanus  (Cass.).  American  Merganser; 
Goosander;  Shelldrake.  (See  Fig,  16.)  Ad.  6  .—Whole  head  and  upper 
neck  glossy  greenish  black  ;  hind  neck,  secondaries,  lesser  wing-coverts,  and 
ends  of  greater  ones  white  ;  back  black,  rump  and  tail  ashy  gray  ;  breast  and 
belly  white,  delicately  tinged  with  salmon.  Ad.  9  and  Im. — Chin  and  upper 
throat  white ;  lower  throat  and  entire  top  of  the  head  rufous-brown ;  rest  of 
upper  parts  and  tail  ashy  gray ;  speculum  *  white ;  breast  and  belly  white. 
L.,  25-00;  W.,  10-50;  Tar.,  1-85;  B.  from  N.,  1-50. 

Range. — North  America  generally  ;  breeds  from  Minnesota  and  southern 
New  Brunswick  northward;  winters  from  Kansas,  Hlinois,  and  Maine  south- 
ward to  South  Carolina. 

Washington,  rare  W.  V.  Long  Island,  uncommon  W.  V.,  Nov.  to  Mch. 
Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.,  Jan.  1  to  Mch.  8.  Cambridge,  formerly 
common  T.  V.,  Oct.  to  Dec. 

Nest.,  of  leaves,  grasses,  and  moss,  lined  with  down,  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or 
cliff.     Eggs.,  six  to  ten,  creamy  buff,  2-65  x  1-75. 

"  This  bird  is  fond  of  plunging  beneath  rushing  currents  for  its 
food,  and  should  it  encounter  a  raft  of  floating  rubbish  or  an  ice-cake 

*  A  patch  in  the  wing  formed  by  the  end  half  of  the  secondaries,  which  in 
Ducks  are  generally  of  a  different  color  from  the  rest  of  the  wing-feathers. 


MERGANSERS.  99 

it  will  readily  pass  underneath  it.  It  swims  so  deeply  as  to  afford  the 
gunner  but  a  small  mark,  and  dives  so  quickly  at  the  snap  or  flash  of 
his  gun  that  he  stands  but  a  small  chance  of  killing  it. 

"  On  being  surprised  the  Goosander  may  rise  directly  out  of  the 
water,  but  more  commonly  pats  the  surface  with  his  feet  for  some 
yards  and  then  rises  to  windward.  A  whole  flock  thus  rising  from 
some  foaming  current  affords  a  spirited  scene.  Once  on  the  wing,  the 
flight  is  straight,  strong,  and  rapid  "  (Langille). 

130.  Merganser  serra>tor  {Linn.).  Eed-breasted  Merganser; 
Shelldrake.  Ad.  5  . — Whole  head  and  throat  black,  more  greenish  above; 
a  white  ring  around  the  neck ;  a  broad  cinnamon-riifous  band  with  black 
streaks  on  the  upper  breast  and  sides  of  the  lower  neck ;  lesser  wing-coverts, 
tips  of  greater  ones,  secondaries,  breast,  and  belly  white;  rump  and  sides 
finely  barred  with  black  and  white.  Ad.  9  and  Im. — Top  and  back  of  head 
grayish  brown  washed  with  cinnamon-rufous ;  sides  of  the  head  and  throat 
cinnamon-rufous,  paler  on  the  throat;  rest  of  under  parts  white;  back  and 
tail  ashy  gray;  speculum  white.  L.,  22*00;  W.,  9-00;  Tar.,  1-70;  B.  from 
N.,  1-80. 

Remarks. — Adults  of  this  and  the  preceding  species  may  always  be  dis- 
tinguished by  the  color  of  the  breast ;  females  and  young,  by  the  difi'erently 
colored  heads,  while  the  position  of  the  nostril  is  always  diagnostic. 

Range. — Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere;  in  America  breeds 
from  northern  Illinois  and  New  Brunswick  northward  to  the  arctic  regions : 
winters  from  near  the  southern  limits  of  its  breeding  range  southward  to  Cuba. 

Washington,  uncommon  W.  V.  Long  Island,  abundant  T.  V.,  Mch.  1  to 
May  1 ;  Oct.  15  to  Dec.  1,  a  few  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Dec.  to 
Apl.  30.     Cambridge,  casual,  one  instance,  Oct. 

Fest.,  of  leaves,  grasses,  mosses,  etc.,  lined  with  down,  on  the  ground  near 
water,  among  rocks  or  scrubby  bushes.  Eggs.,  six  to  twelve,  creamy  buflf, 
2-55  X  1-75. 

This  is  a  more  common  species  than  the  preceding,  which  it  resem- 
bles in  habits.     Its  note  is  described  as  a  "  croak." 

131«  LiOphodytescuciillaitus(Zi;?72..).  Hooded  Merganser.  Ad.  4. 
— Front  part  of  large  circular  crest  black  ;  remaining  part  white,  bordered  by 
black  ;  rest  of  head,  the  neck,  and  back  black  ;  breast  and  belly  white ;  sides 
cinnamon-rufous,  finely  barred  with  black.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  throat  white  ;  head, 
neck,  and  upper  breast  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  tinged  with  cinnamon, 
especially  on  the  small  crest ;  lower  breast  and  belly  white ;  sides  grayish 
brown;  back  fuscous.  Im. — Similar,  but  with  no  crest.  L.,  17*50;  W.,  7*50; 
Tar.,  1-10;  B.,  1*45. 

Range. — North  America  generally,  south  in  winter  to  Cuba  and  Mexico; 
breeds  locally  throughout  its  North  American  range. 

Washington,  uncommon  W.  V.  Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V.,  rare  W.  V., 
Nov.  to  May.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Mch.  Cambridge,  formerly  common  T, 
v.,  Oct.  to  Dec. 


loo  RIVER  DUCKS. 

liest^  of  grasses,  leaves,  moss,  etc.,  lined  with  down,  in  a  hollow  tree  or 
stump  near  water.     Eggs^  eight  to  ten,  butfy  white,  2'10  x  1-75. 

According  to  Ernest  E.  Thompson,  both  the  preceding  species  fre- 
quent chiefly  "  living  "  or  running  water,  while  this  bird  prefers  "  dead  " 
waters,  or  quiet  ponds  and  lakes.  In  Florida  it  lives  in  small  ponds  in 
the  hummocks,  where  one  expects  to  find  Wood  Ducks,  and  feeds  on 
roots,  seeds,  etc.  It  visits  also  the  lakes  frequented  by  Black  Ducks, 
Mallards,  and  other  AnatiiKB.  The  male  is  a  striking  bird  in  life,  and 
can  not  be  mistaken  for  any  other  species. 

Subfamily  Anatince.    River  and  Pond  Ducks. 

The  Ducks  of  this  subfamily  are  distinguished  by  the  absence  of  a 
lobe  on  the  hind  toe.  They  are,  for  the  most  part,  northern  breeding 
birds,  and  appear  on  our  waters  chiefly  as  migrants.  At  this  time  they 
differ  but  little  in  habits,  and  as  a  rule  frequent  sluggish  streams, 
shallow  ponds,  arms  of  bays,  and  marshes.  In  comparison  with  the 
deep-water  FiUigiilincB  they  might  be  called  "dabblers"  or  "tip-ups," 
and  any  one  who  has  seen  them  dabbling  along  the  shore,  or  with  up- 
turned tail  and  head  immersed  probing  the  bottom  in  shallow  water, 
like  a  flock  of  animated  tenpins,  will  recognize  the  appropriateness  of 
these  terms.  They  feed  upon  mollusks,  crustaceans,  insects  and  their 
larvae,  seeds  and  roots  of  aquatic  plants.  The  "  gutters  "  on  the  sides 
of  the  bill  act  as  strainers,  and,  after  probing  the  bottom,  the  mere  act 
of  closing  the  bill  forces  out  the  mud  and  water  taken  in  with  the  food. 
As  a  rule,  they  feed  more  commonly  by  night  than  by  day. 

They  do  not  gather  in  such  large  flocks  as  the  Sea  Ducks,  and  in 
our  waters  are  generally  found  in  groups  of  less  than  fifty. 

They  spring  from  the  water  at  a  bound,  and  on  whistling  wing  are 
soon  beyond  the  fowler's  reach.  Their  speed  is  variously  estimated  for 
different  species  at  a  hundred  to  a  hundred  and  sixty  miles  an  hour. 
Doubtless  the  first-named  distance  is  nearer  the  truth. 

Their  nest  is  composed  of  twigs,  rootlets,  grasses,  leaves,  moss, 
feathers,  etc.,  lined  with  down  from  the  breast  of  the  incubating  bird. 
All  our  species,  except  the  Wood  Duck,  place  their  nest  on  the  ground, 
generally  in  grassy  sloughs  or  marshes,  but  sometimes  in  dry  places 
some  distance  from  the  water. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Wing  under  8*50. 

a.  Lesser  wing-coverts  gray. 

139.  Green-winged  Teal.    138.  European  Teal. 

b.  Lesser  wing-coverts  blue. 

b^.  Cheeks  slate-color,  a  broad  white  mark  near  the  front  of  the  face. 

140.  Blue-wingeb  Teal  (  &  ad.). 


RIVER  DUCKS.  101 

6a.  Cheeks  and  under  parts  chestnut-rufous.   141.  Cinnamon  Teal  (  3  ad.). 
ci.  Cheeks  finely 'streaked  with  blackish, 
c*.  Under  parts  whitish,  sometimes  washed  with  brownish,  streaked  or 
spotted  with  blackish  .......     140.  Blue- winged  Teal  9  . 

(*.  Under  parts  heavily  washed  with  chestnut-ruibus  and  mottled  with 

black 141.  Cinnamon  Teal  ?  ^ 

[I    Wing  over  8-50. 

A.  Belly  white  or  grayish  white,  not  conspicuously  streaked  or  spotted. 

a.  Whole  head  shining  dark  green 132.  Mallard  (  $  ad.), 

I.  Center  of  head  white  or  whitish,  a  large  streak  behind  the  eye. 

137.  Baldpate  (  $  ad.). 

c.  Throat  white,  crown  green  or  grayish  green,  tips  of  primaries  greenish. 

144.  Wood  Duck. 

d.  Throat  blackish,  center  of  crown  buffy,  rest  of  head  rufous. 

136.  Widgeon  (  6  ad.). 

e.  Throat  and  sides  of  head  olive- brown,  darker  on  the  crown. 

143.  Pintail  (  ?  ad.). 
/.  Throat,  crown,  and  sides  of  head  more  or  less  finely  streaked  with 
blackish. 

f^.  Wing-coverts  with  more  or  less  chestnut    ....    135.  Gad  wall. 
g^.  No  chestnut  in  wing-coverts. 
g^.  Axillars  *  and  sides  barred  with  black    ....  143.  Pintail  9  • 
g^.  Axillars  white  or  speckled  with  black,  sides  plain  brownish. 

137.  Baldpate  9  . 
g*.  Axillars  white,  sides  thickly  spotted  or  barred  with  black. 

135.  Gad  WALL  9  . 

B.  Under  parts  conspicuously  mottled,  spotted,  or  streaked,  or  feathers 

margined  with  chestnut-rufous. 

a.  With  white  in  wing-coverts. 

a>.  Lesser  wing-coverts  ashy  blue 142-  Shoveler  9  . 

b^.  Lesser  wing-coverts  brownish  gray,  bordered  with  white  or  tipped 

with  black. 

h^.  Speculum  t  purple 132.  Mallard  9. 

&3.  Speculum  gray  and  white 135.  Gadwall  9  . 

b.  No  white  in  wing-coverts. 

a.  Throat  fulvous  or  buffy  without  streaks.    .    .    134.  Florida  Duok- 

b.  Throat  finely  streaked  with  black 133.  Black  Duck, 

C.  Belly  chestnut 142.  Shoveler  i  . 

132.  Anas   boschas   Linn.     Mallard   (see  Fig.   17,  a).     Ad.  $ . — 

Whole  head  and  throat  glossy  greenish  or  bluish  black;  a  white  ring  around 
the  neck ;  breast  rich  chestnut ;  belly  grayish  white,  finely  marked  with  wavy 
black  lines ;  under  tail-coverts  black  ;  upper  back  dark  grayish  brown ;  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts  black ;  longer  upper  tail-coverts  recurved ;  speculum 
rich  purple,  bordered  at  the  base  and  tip  by  narrow  bands  of  blach  and  tvTiite. 
Ad.  9  . — Top  and  sides  of  head  streaked  with  fuscous  and  buflFy ;  back  fuscous, 

*  See  Fig.  64.  t  A  colored  patch  in  the  wing. 


102  RIVER  DUCKS. 

the  feathers  with  internal  rings  or  loops  and  sometimes  borders  of  pale  ochra- 
ceous  butfy  ;  speculum  as  in  the  preceding ;  breast  and  belly  ochraceous  bufty, 
mottled  with  dusky  grayish  brown,     L.,  23-00;  W.,  11-00;  Tar.,  1-75;  B.,  2-25. 

Range. — Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere ;  in  America  breeds 
in  the  interior  from  Indiana  and  Iowa,  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast  rarely  south 
of  Labrador,  northward  to  the  arctic  regions ;  winters  from  southern  Kansas 
and  Delaware  southward  to  Central  America  and  the  island  of  Granada. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.  Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V.,  Sept.  to  ApL 
Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Oct.,  Mch. 

Eggs.^  six  to  ten,  pale  greenish  or  bluish  white,  2-30  x  1-70. 

The  Mallard  is  far  more  common  in  the  interior  than  on  the  coasts. 
Its  loud,  sonorous  quack  is  not  distinguishable  from  that  of  its  domes- 
ticated descendants. 

133.  Anas  obscura  Gmel.  Black  Duck;  Dusky  Duck.  Ad.— 
Top  of  the  head  rich  fuscous,  slightly  streaked  with  pale  buffy ;  sides  of  the 
head  and  throat  pale  butfy,  thickly  streaked  with  blackish  ;  rest  of  under  parts 
fuscous  brown,  the  feathers  all  bordered  by  ochraceous-buff ;  back  slightly 
darker  and  narrowly  margined  with  butfy ;  speculum  rich  purple,  bordered 
by  black.    L.,  22-00;  W.,  11-00;  Tar.,  1-75;  B.,  2-20. 

Remarks. — Always  to  be  distinguished  from  the  Mallard  by  the  lack  of 
white  in  the  wing. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  from  Illinois  and  New  Jersey  to  Hudson 
Bay  and  Labrador;  winters  southward  to  the  Greater  Antilles, 

Washington,  common  W.  V.  Long  Island,  abundant  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  May ; 
a  few  breed.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  E.,  Mch.  6  to  Nov.  13.  Cam- 
bridge, very  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Apl ;  late  Aug.  to  Nov, ;  a  few  breed. 

Eggs^  eight  to  twelve,  pale  greenish  or  bluish  white,  or  creamy  buff, 
2-43  X  1-75. 

This  species  resembles  the  Mallard  in  general  habits,  and  the  voices 
of  the  two  are  indistinguishable.  The  Black  Duck,  however,  is  com- 
moner near  the  seacoasts,  and  when  molested  will  sometimes  pass  the 
day  at  sea,  returning  at  night  to  feed  in  the  marshes  and  ponds  near 
the  shore. 

134.  Anas  fUl-vigula  Ridgw.  Florida  Duck.  Ad. — Top  of  head 
streaked  with  black  and  buffy ;  sides  of  the  head  and  entire  throat  bufty, 
without  streaks  ;  rest  of  under  parts  rich  bufty  ochraceous,  widely  streaked 
with  black  ;  back  black,  the  feathers  broadly  margined  and  sometimes  inter- 
nally striped  with  ochraceous-buft";  speculum  rich  purple  bordered  by  black ; 
bill  olive-yellow,  its  nail  black.    L.,  20-00 ;  W.,  10-50 ;  Tar.,  1-65 ;  B.,  2-05. 

Remarks. — Easily  distinguished  from  A.  obscura  by  the  absence  of  streaks 
on  the  throat. 

Range. — Florida  and  Gulf  coast  to  Louisiana. 

Eggs,  eight  to  ten,  pale  dull  buff  or  pale  grayish  buff,  2-15  x  1-61  (Ridgw.). 

This  is  a  common  resident  species  in  Florida.  Its  habits  and  voice 
are  practically  the  same  as  those  of  the  Black  Duck. 


RIVER  DUCKS.  IO3 

135.  Anas  strepera  Linn.  Gadwall;  Gkay  Duck.  Ad.  4  .— 
Top  of  the  head  streaked  with  rufous-brown  and  black  ;  sides  of  the  head  and 
Qeck  pale  bulfy,  thickly  streaked  or  spotted  with  black  ;  breast  and  neck  all 
around  black,  each  feather  with  a  border  and  an  internal  ring  of  white,  giving 
the  plumage  a  beautifully  scaled  appearance ;  belly  white  or  grayish ;  rump, 
upper  and  under  tail-coverts  black ;  lesser  wing-coverts  chestnut.  Ad.  9  . — 
Head  and  throat  as  in  the  male ;  back  fuscous  margined  with  buffy ;  breast 
and  sides  ochraceous  bufty,  thickly  spotted  with  blackish ;  belly  and  under 
tail-coverts  white,  more  or  less  thickly  spotted  with  blackish  ;  little  or  no 
chestnut  on  wing-coverts  ;  speculum  ashy  gray  and  white  ;  axillars  and  under 
wing-coverts  j9wre  white.    L.,  19-50 ;  W.,  10-4:0  ;  Tar.,  1-55  ;  B.,  1-70. 

Range.— l^artYiQxn  hemisphere ;  in  America,  breeds  in  the  interior  locally 
from  Kansas  northward  to  the  arctic  regions  ;  known  to  breed  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  only  at  Anticosti ;  winters  from  Virginia  to  Florida  and  Texas. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  Apl.    Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Eggs.,  eight  to  twelve,  pale  buff  or  butfy  white,  2-09  x  1-57  (Kidgw.). 

This  species  is  common  in  the  interior  and  in  Florida,  but  is  rather 
rare  in  the  other  Atlantic  States.  Its  call-note  is  said  to  resemble  that 
of  the  Mallard,  "  but  is  rather  more  shrill,  and  frequently  repeated." 

136.  Anas  penelope  Xm/?.  European  Widgeon.  Ad.  $. — Crown 
creamy  buff;  throat  blackish,  rest  of  head  and  neck  rufous-brown  ;  upper 
breast  vinaceous,  lower  breast  and  belly  white ;  sides  and  back  finely  marked 
with  wavy  black  and  white  lines.  Ad.  9  . — Head  and  throat  deep  ochraceous- 
buff,  finely  streaked  and  barred  with  black,  darker  above ;  upper  breast  and 
sides  much  the  same  color,  but  without  black  markings ;  lower  breast  and 
belly  white ;  back  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with  small  ochraceous  buffy 
bars;  tertials  fuscous,  bordered  by  deep  ochraceous  huffy ;  greater  wing-cov- 
erts hrownish  gray.,  usually  whiter  on  the  outer  webs  and  tipped  with  black. 
W.,  10-50  ;  B.,  1-40. 

Remar]cs.—llh.e,  females  of  the  European  and  American  Widgeons  bear  a 
general  resemblance  to  one  another.  Their  distinguishing  characters  are 
mainly  in  the  color  of  the  head  and  throat,  which  are  brown  in  the  European 
species,  and  in  the  color  of  the  greater  wing-coverts,  which  are  whiter  in  the 
American  bird.  I  have  seen  a  caged  male  in  the  summer  in  a  plumage  closely 
resembling  that  of  the  female.  Probably  a  similar  change  of  plumage  occurs 
in  our  A.  americana. 

Range. — Northern  parts  of  the  Old  World;  in  North  America  breeds  in 
the  Aleutian  Islands,  and  occurs  occasionally  in  the  eastern  United  States. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  two  records.    Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Eggs.,  five  to  eight,  buffy  white,  2-23  x  1-53. 

"  The  call-note  of  the  male  is  a  shrill,  whistling  whee-you,  whence 
the  local  names  '  Whew  Duck  '  and  '  Whewer  ' ;  but  the  female  utters 
a  low  pu7T-u\g  growl.    Both  sexes,  however,  rise  in  silence  "  (Saunders). 

137.  Anas  americana  Gmel.  Baldpate;  American  Widgeon. 
Ad.  (J  .—Middle  of  the  crown  white  or  buffy  ;  sides  of  the  crown,  from  the  eye 


104  RIVER  DUCKS. 

to  the  nape,  glossy  green,  more  or  less  sprinkled  with  black ;  lores,  cheeks, 
and  throat  bufFy,  finely  barred  with  black ;  upper  breast  and  sides  vinaceous, 
the  latter  more  or  less  finely  barred  with  wavy  black  lines ;  lower  breast  and 
belly  white;  back  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  tinged  with  vinaceous  and 
finely  barred  with  black.  Ad.  9  . — Head  and  throat  white  or  pale,  creamy 
buff,  finely  streaked  and  barred  with  black,  darker  above ;  upper  breast  and 
sides  pale  vinaceous  washed  with  grayish  ;  lower  breast  and  belly  white ;  back 
grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with  small  creamy  buif  bars  ;  tertials  fuscous,  bor- 
dered with  whitish  or  creamy  butf ;  greater  wing-coverts  brownish  gray,  their 
outer  webs  mostly  or  entirely  white^  their  ends  black,  sometimes  tipped  with 
white.    L.,  19-00  ;  W.,  10-50;  Tar.,  1-50  ;  B.,  1-40. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  in  the  interior  regularly  from  Minnesota 
northward,  and  casually  as  far  south  as  Texas ;  not  known  to  breed  on  the 
Atlantic  coast ;  winters  from  open  water  south  to  Central  America  and  north- 
ern South  America. 

Washington,  common  W.  K.,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V., 
Oct.  to  Apl.     Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  11  to  Apl.  12 ;  Oct.  4  to  Oct.  28. 

Eggs.,  seven  to  twelve,  butfy  white,  2-05  x  1-50. 

Colonel  N.  S.  Goss  writes  that,  as  a  rule,  Widgeons  are  "  not  shy, 
and  their  note,  a  sort  of  wheiv,  whew,  whew,  uttered  while  feeding  and 
swimming,  enables  the  hunter  to  locate  them  in  the  thickest  growth 
of  water  plants :  and  when  in  the  air  the  whistling  noise  made  by  their 
wings  heralds  their  approach."  They  are  fond  of  wild  celery,  which 
they  procure  by  robbing  the  Canvasback  and  other  diving  Ducks, 
"  snatching  their  catch  from  their  bills  the  moment  their  heads  appear 
above  the  water." 

139.  Anas  carolinensis  Gmel.  Green- winged  Teal.  Ad.  $ . 
— Chin  black,  sides  of  the  head  from  the  eye  to  the  nape  shining  green,  rest 
of  the  head  and  neck  rufous-chestnut ;  breast  washed  with  vinaceous  and 
spotted  with  black  ;  belly  white  ;  sides  finely  marked  with  wavy  black  and 
white  lines  ;  middle  under  tail-coverts  black,  lateral  ones  creamy  buff;  upper 
back  like  the  sides,  lower  back  grayish  fuscous  ;  a  white  har  in  front  of  the 
bend  of  the  wing  ;  wing-coverts  brownish  gray,  tipped  with  ochraceous  bufFy. 
Ad.  9  . — Top  of  the  head  brownish  fuscous,  margined  with  cinnamon  ;  throat 
and  sides  of  the  neck  white,  finely  spotted  with  black  ;  breast  and  sides 
washed  with  cinnamon  and  spotted  or  barred  with  black ;  belly  and  under 
tail-coverts  white,  sometimes  spotted  with  black ;  back  fuscous,  the  feathers 
with  crescent- shaped  marks  of  ochraceous  bufFy,  and  bordered  with  grayish ; 
wmgs  as  in  the  male.     L.,  14-50;  W.,  7-00  ;  Tar.,  1-10  :  B.,  1-35. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  Minnesota  and  New  Brunswick 
northward  ;  winters  from  Kansas  and  Virginia  southward  to  the  West  Indies 
and  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V. 
and  W.  v.,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  Sept.  11  to  Oct.  28, 
Cambridge,  uncommon  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  Sept.  to  Nov. 

Eggs.,  six  to  twelve,  bufFy  white  or  creamy  buff,  1-80  x  1-25. 


RIVER  DUCKS.  105 

"In  autumn  the  males  usually  keep  in  separate  flocks  from  the 
females  and  young.  Their  notes  are  faint  and  piping,  and  their  wings 
make  a  loud  whistling  during  flight.  .  .  ."  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

The  European  Teal  {138.  Anas  crecca)  is  of  casual  occurrence  in  North 
America.  The  adult  male  resembles  that  of  A.  carolinensis^  but  the  white 
bar  in  front  of  the  wing  is  lacking,  and  the  inner  scapulars  are  creamy  buff, 
with  a  sharply  defined  black  mark  on  their  outer  webs.  The  female  can  not 
be  distinguished  from  that  of  A.  carolinensis. 

140*  Ana>S  discox*s  Linn.  Bltje-winged  Teal.  Ad.  6 . — Crown 
fuscous,  chin  and  sides  of  the  base  of  the  bill  black  ;  a  broad  white  band 
across  the  front  of  the  head,  its  hinder  margin  bordered  by  black  ;  rest  of  the 
head  and  throat  dark  ashy  with  purplish  reflections ;  breast  and  belly  cinna- 
mon-rufous, thickly  spotted  with  black  ;  back  fuscous,  the  feathers  with  cres- 
cents of  ochraceous-butf ;  lesser  and  median  icing-coverts  grayish  blue,  end 
half  of  the  greater  ones  white ;  speculum  green.  Ad.  $  and  S  in  suinmer. — 
Crown  fuscous,  lightly  margined  with  grayish  ;  sides  of  the  head  and  the 
neck  whitish,  finely  spotted  with  blackish,  except  on  the  throat ;  breast  and 
belly  with  less  cinnamon  wash  than  in  the  preceding  ;  back  and  wings  quite 
similar  to  the  preceding,  but  ochraceous  bars  sometimes  wanting ,  speculum 
darker  and  greater  coverts  with  less  white.  L.,  16'00  ;  W.,  7'25  ;  Tar.,  1*20  ; 
B.,  1-60. 

Range. — Chiefly  eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  Kansas,  northern 
Ohio,  and  New  Brunswick  northward ;  winters  from  Virginia  and  tlie  Lower 
Mississippi  Valley  to  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V. 
in  Sept.,  rare  T.  V.  in  spring.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.  in  fall,  Sept.  24  to 
Oct.  17.  Cambridge,  rare  in  spring;  very  common  (at  least  formerly)  Aug. 
to  Oct. 

Eggs.1  six  to  twelve,  huffy  white  or  creamy  buff,  1-85  x  1-30. 

This  generally  silent  species  flies  in  densely  massed,  small  flocks, 
which  move  as  one  bird.  The  white  face-mark  can  be  discerned  at 
some  distance,  and,  in  connection  with  the  bird's  small  size,  is  a  good 
field-mark. 

The  Cinnamon  Teal  {141-  Anas  cyanoptera),  a  species  of  vfestem  North 
America,  sometimes  occurs  east  of  the  Mississippi.  It  has  been  recorded  from 
Illinois  and  Florida.  The  male  has  the  under  parts  deep  cinnamon;  the 
female  closely  resembles  the  same  sex  of  our  Anas  discors. 

142.  Spatula  clypeata  (Linn.).  Shoveler.  Ad.  6 . — ^Head  and 
neck  fuscous,  glossed  with  bluish  green  ;  back  and  a  broken  line  down  the 
back  of  the  lower  neck  fuscous ;  rest  of  the  lower  neck  and  breast  white ; 
lower  breast  and  belly  rufous-chestnut ;  upper  and  under  tail-coverts  dark 
greenish  ;  lesser  wing-coverts  grayish  blue,  greater  ones  brownish  gray  tipped 
with  white ;  speculum  green.  Ad.  9  . — Throat  huffy  white  ;  head  and  neck 
streaked  with  bufl'y  and  black ;  rest  of  under  parts  more  or  less  washed  with 


106  RIVER  DUCKS. 

buffy  ochraceous,  everywhere  indistinctly  spotted  with  fuscous  except  on  the 
middle  of  the  belly ;  back  fuscous,  the  feathers  with  margins  and  internal 
crescents  of  whitish  and  buffy ;  wing-coverts  and  speculum  much  as  in  the 
male.  Im. — The  im.  5  is  intermediate  between  the  ad.  6  and  9  ;  the  im.  9 
resemble  the  ad.  5  ,  but  the  wing-coverts  are  slaty  gray,  the  speculum  with 
little  or  no  green.     L.,  2000  ;  W.,  9-50  ;  B.,  2-50  ;  greatest  width  of  B.,  1-20. 

Range. — Northern  hemisphere :  in  America,  more  common  in  the  interior ; 
breeds  regularly  from  Minnesota  northward  and  locally  as  far  south  as  Texas ; 
not  known  to  breed  in  the  Atlantic  States ;  winters  from  southern  Illinois 
and  Virginia  southward  to  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  not  uncommon  W.  V.  Long  Island,  rare  T.  V.  Sing  Sing, 
A.  v.,  Oct. 

Eggs.^  six  to  ten,  pale  buffy  white  or  bluish  white,  2-10  x  1-50. 

The  Shoveler,  like  most  of  the  members  of  this  subfamily,  is  more 
common  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  than  on  the  coast.  It  is  generally 
a  silent  bird,  but  its  note  in  the  breeding  season  is  said  to  be  "  took, 
took."'     It  feeds  largely  by  tipping  in  shallow  water. 

143.  Dafila;  acuta  {Linn.).  Pintail  ;  Spkigtail.  Ad.  6  . — Head 
and  throat  olive-brown  ;  back  of  the  neck  blackish,  bordered  by  white  stripes, 
which  pass  to  the  breast ;  breast  and  belly  white ;  the  abdomen  faintly  and 
the  sides  strongly  marked  with  wavy  lines  of  black  and  white ;  back  some- 
what darker  than  the  sides ;  scapulars  black,  bordered  or  streaked  with  buffy 
white ;  wing-coverts  brownish  gray,  the  greater  ones  tipped  with  rufous  ; 
speculum  green  ;  central  tail-feathers  glossed  with  green  and  much  elongated. 
Ad.  9  . — Throat  white  or  whitish,  crown  and  sides  of  the  head  streaked  with 
blackish  and  buffy  ochraceous,  darker  above;  breast  washed  with  buffy 
ochraceous  and  spotted  with  blackish ;  belly  white  ;  abdomen  more  or  less 
indistinctly  mottled  with  blackish  ;  sides  with  bars  and  lengthened  black 
and  white  crescents  ;  under  wing-coverts  fuscous,  bordered  with  whitish ; 
axillars  barred'  or  mottled  with  black  ;  back  fuscous,  the  feathers  with  borders, 
bars,  or  crescents  of  white  or  buffy;  speculum  grayish  brown  boi'dered  with 
white.  5  in  breeding  plumage.— '■'•  Similar  to  ad.  9  ,  but  wings  as  in  spring 
or  winter  plumage"  (Ridgw.).  Im. — The  im.  6  is  variously  intermediate 
between  the  ad.  4  and  9  ;  the  im.  9  resembles  the  ad.  9  ,  but  the  under  parts 
are  more  heavily  streaked  or  spotted.  L.,  6  ,  28-00,  9  ,  22-00  ;  W.,  10-00  ;  T., 
$  ,  7-50,  9  ,  3-60  ;  B.,  2-00. 

EemMrhs. — The  female  of  this  species  is  a  rather  obscure-looking  bird,  but 
may  always  be  knoAvn  by  its  broad,  sharply  pointed  central  tail-feathers  and 
dusky  under  wing-coverts. 

Range. — Northern  hemisphere  ;  in  America,  breeds  from  Iowa  and  Illinois 
to  the  Arctic  Ocean  ;  not  known  to  breed  on  the  Atlantic  coast ;  winters  from 
Virginia  southward  to  the  Greater  Antilles  and  Central  America. 

Washington,  W.  V.,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  very  common  T.  V.,  Sept, 
15  to  Apl.  15  ;  a  few  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  15  to  Apl.  10; 
Sept.  26  to  Dec.  4.     Cambridge,  casual  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  Sept.  and  Oct. 

Eggs.,  eight  to  twelve,  buffy  white  or  pale  bluish  white,  2-20  x  1-50. 


SEA   DUCKS.  107 

The  Pintail  is  frequently  found  associated  with  the  Black  Dack 
and  Widgeon.  As  a  rule  it  is  voiceless,  but  is  said  to  utter  "a  low- 
toned  quack  at  night."  The  long  neck  and  tail  of  the  male  make  its 
identification  easy  even  at  a  distance. 

144.  Ai:s  sponsa<  {Linn.).  Wood  Duck.  Ad.  $. — A  line  from  the 
bill  over  the  eye,  a  similar  line  at  the  base  of  the  side  of  the  crest,  and  some 
of  the  elongated  crest-feathers  white  ;  throat,  a  band  from  it  up  the  side  of 
the  head,  and  a  wider  one  to  the  nape,  white  ;  rest  of  the  cheeks  and  crown 
green  with  purplish  reflections;  a  white  band  in  front  of  the  wings  ;  breast 
and  a  spot  at  either  side  of  the  base  of  the  tail  purplish  chestnut,  the  former 
spotted  with  white  ;  belly  white ;  sides  bufiy  ochraceous,  linely  barred  with 
black,  the  longer  iiank  feathers  tipped  with  wider  bars  of  black  and  white ; 
back  greenish  brown;  scapulars  blacker;  speculum  steel-blue;  primaries 
tipped  with  greenish  blue. — Ad.  9  . — Throat  and  a  stripe  from  the  eye  back- 
ward white ;  crown  purplish  brown ;  sides  of  the  head  ashy  brown  ;  breast 
and  sides  grayish  brown  streaked  with  butty  ;  belly  white  ;  back  olive-brown 
glossed  with  greenish  ;  inner  primaries  tipped  with  greenish  blue.  Im. — The 
im.  6  resembles  the  9  .     L.,  18-50  ;   W.,  9-00  ;  Tar.,  1-35  ;  B.,  1-30. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Hudson  Bay,  and  winters 
southward  to  southern  Mexico,  Cuba,  and  Jamaica. 

Washington,  uncommon  P.  E.  Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V.  and  W.  V., 
Sept.  to  Apl. ;  rare  S.  R.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  E.  Cambridge, 
common  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Apl. ;  Aug.  to  Nov. ;  a  few  breed. 

Nest.^  of  grasses,  leaves,  twigs,  etc.,  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or  stump.  Lgcj^., 
eight  to  fourteen,  pale  butfy  white,  2-05  x  1-50. 

Woodland  ponds  and  forest-bordered  streams  make  a  proper  setting 
for  the  grace  and  beauty  of  these  richly  attired  birds.  Several  times 
it  has  been  my  fortune  to  see  them  in  the  unconscious  enjoyment 
of  their  secluded  homes,  and  I  know  of  no  sight  in  the  bird  world 
which  so  fully  satisfies  the  eye.  Alarm  them,  and  with  a  frightened, 
plaintive  whistle,  "  oo-eeA;,"  they  spring  from  the  water  and  make  off 
through  the  woods.  At  other  times  they  will  swim  ahead  of  one's 
canoe,  and,  rounding  a  bend  in  the  stream,  go  ashore  and  walk  rapidly 
away. 

The  young  are  brought  from  the  nest  to  the  ground  in  the  bill  of 
the  parent. 

Sub  family  FuligulincB.     Bay  a?id  Sea  Ducks. 

The  members  of  this  subfamily  are  to  be  distinguished  from  those 
of  the  preceding  by  the  presence  of  a  lobe  or  web  on  the  hind  toe. 
They  are  open-water  Ducks,  frequenting  our  large  lakes,  liays,  and  sea- 
coasts.  Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  mollusks.  crustaceans,  and  the 
seeds  and  roots  of  aquatic  plants.  They  obtain  it  principally  by  div- 
ing, sometimes  descending  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  or  more.     The 


108  SEA  DUCKS. 

Dill,  as  in  the  Anatinm,  acts  as  a  sieve  or  strainer.  As  a  rule  they  feed 
by  day  and  pass  the  night  at  a  distance  from  the  shore  or  at  sea.  Some 
of  the  species  occur  in  our  waters  in  large  flocks — indeed,  our  most 
abundant  Ducks  are  members  of  this  subfamily.  With  one  exception 
they  are  northern  breeding  birds,  seldom  nesting  south  of  our  north- 
ern tier  of  States. 

Their  nest  is  composed  of  twigs,  leaves,  grasses,  stems  of  aquatic 
plants,  seaweed,  etc.,  lined  with  down  from  the  breast  of  the  incubat- 
ing  bird. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Feathers  at  the  base  of  the  bill  not  reaching  "50  forward  along  its  sides. 
A.  Wing  over  7"00  ;  axillars  and  most  if  not  all  the  linings  of  the  wings  white. 

a.  Head  and  neck  black,  with  greenish  or  purplish  reflections, 
fli.  Back  black  ;  bill  with  a  bluish  band  near  its  tip. 

150.    RiNG-NECKED  DuCK  S  . 

^1.  Back  finely  barred  with  black  and  white. 
J*.  Back  of  head  generally  with  purplish  reflections ;  wing  generally 
under  8"25 ;  nail  of  bill  genei'ally  under  -25  in  width. 

149.  Lesser  Scaup  Duck  S. 
b^.  Back  of  head  generally  with  greenish  reflections ;  wing  gener 
ally  over  8-25 ;  nail  of  bill  over  '25  in  width. 

148.  Am.  Scaup  Duck  S  . 

b.  Head  anc^  neck  rufous  or  rufous-brown,  sharply  defined  from  the  black 
breast. 

b^.  Head  and  upper  neck  rich  rufous ;  bill  2-00  or  under ;  flanks  flnely 
barred,  like  the  back 146.  Eedhead  5  . 

J2.  Head  and  neck  rufous-brown  ;  crown  blackish ;  bill  over  2-00 ;  flanks 
very  slightly  if  at  all  barred 147.  Canvasback  S  . 

c.  Head  and  neck  brownish  or  grayish. 
c^.  A  white  patch  in  the  wing. 

6'2.  Feathers  at  base  of  bill  white ;  wing  generally  under  8-25 ;  nail  of 

bill  generally  under  -25  in  width  .     .     149.  Lesser  Scaup  Duck  9  ■ 

c^.  Feathers  at  base  of  bill  white ;  wing  generally  over  8*25 ;  nail  of 

bill  generally  over  -25  in  width      .     .     .    148.  Am.  Scaup  Duck  9  - 

d^.  No  white  in  wing. 

d^.  An  indistinct  bluish  band  near  the  tip  of  bill;  bill  under  2-00. 

d^.  Wing  under  8'00 150.  Eing-necked  Duck  9. 

d*.  Wing  over  8-00 146.  Eedhead  9  . 

e^.  No  band  on  bill ;  bill  over  2-00 147.  Canvasback  9  . 

£.  Wing  over  7"00 ;  axillars  and  most  if  not  all  the  under  wing-coverta 
blackish. 

a.  Head  and  throat  dark  steel-blue  or  steel-green. 
«!.  Head  and  throat  steel-blue ;  white  patch  at  base  of  bill  1-00  or  more 

in  height 152.  Barrow's  Golden-eye  $  . 

a*.  Head  and  throat  steel-green;  white  patch  at  base  of  bill  less  than 
1-00  in  height 151.  Am.  Golden-eye  $ 


SEA  DUCKS.  109 

k.  Whole  head  and  throat  brown,  sharply  defined  from  the  gray  or  white 
neck  ;  a  white  patch  (speculum)  in  the  wing. 
fti.  Nostril  nearer  the  tip  than  the  base  of  the  bill. 

151.  Am.  Golden-eye  9 . 
b^.  Nostril  in  the  middle  of  the  bill     .     152.  Barrow's  Golden-eye  9  . 

c.  Whole  head  and  neck  black 163.  Am.  Scoter  S  . 

d.  A  white  patch  on  the  top  of  the  head  and  another  on  the  back  of  the 
neck     ...,..., ,     166.  Surf  Scoter  $ . 

e.  Middle  of  crown  black,  bordered  by  chestnut ;  front  half  of  the  face 
white 155.  Harlequin  Duck  6  . 

/.  Head  and  neck  whitish,  grayish,  or  brownish  ;  no  white  in  the  wing. 
/I.  Bill  over  1-25. 

/*.  Feathers  on  culmen  reaching  much  farther  forward  than  those  at 

the  sides  of  the  bill 166.  Surf  Scoter  9  . 

/^.  Feathers  on  culmen  reaching  little  if  any  beyond  those  at  the  sides 

of  the  bill 163.  Am.  Scoter  9 . 

gK  Bill  under  1-25. 
g^.  Central  tail-feathers  longest,  sharply  pointed ,  under  tail-coverts 

white 154.  Old  Squaw. 

g^.  Central  tail-feathers  not  sharply  pointed ;  under  tail-coverts  gray- 
ish brown 155.  Harlequin  Duck. 

C.  Wing  under  7-00. 

a.  Tail-feathers  stiff  and  narrow  ;  upper  tail-coverts  very  short. 
a^.  Upper  parts  mostly  rich  chestnut-rufous. 

a».  Cheeks  white 167.  Euddy  Duck  S. 

a^.  Cheeks  black 168.  Masked  Duck  $. 

b^.  Upper  parts  grayish  or  brownish,  with  sometimes  rufous  markings. 
J'.  Lining  of  wing  blackish  ;  under  parts  grayish. 

168.  Masked  Duck  9. 
h^.  Lining  of  wing  whitish  ;  under  parts  grayish. 

167.  Ruddy  Duck  9  . 

b.  Tail-feathers  normal ;  upper  tail-coverts  about  half  as  long  as  tail. 

153.  Bufflehead. 
IL  Feathers  at  sides  or  top  of  bill  extending  forward  generally  as  far  as  nostril. 

A.  Feathers  on  sides  of  bill  not  reaching  nostril. 

a.  Nostril  narrow,  elongate ;  feathers  on  culmen  extending  forward  in  a 
narrow  line,  a  V-shaped  mark  on  throat      ....     162.  King  Eider. 

b.  Nostril  large,  rounded ;  feathers  on  culmen  not  extending  forward  in  a 
narrow  line 165.  White-winged  Scoter. 

B.  Feathers  on  sides  of  bill  extending  as  far  as  nostril. 

a.  Bare  base  of  bill  on  top  narrow,  ending  posteriorly  in  a  sharp  point. 

159.  Greenland  Eider. 

b.  Bare  base  of  bill  on  top  broad,  the  posterior  end  rounded. 

160.  Am.  Eider. 

The  EuFous-CRESTED  Duck  [145.  Netta  rufina)  is  an  Old- World  species 
which  has  been  taken  once  in  America.  The  record  is  based  on  an  immature 
male  found  in  Fulton  Market,  New  York  city,  which  was  supposed  to  have 
been  shot  on  Long  Island. 


110  SEA   DUCKS. 

146.  Aythya  americana  (Eyt.).     Redhead.     Ad.   $ . — Head  and 

throal  bright  rufous;  lower  neck,  breast,  back  of  the  neck,  and  upper  back 
black ;  rest  of  the  back  and  scapulars  finely  barred  with  wavy  black  and  white 
lines  of  e^MaZ  tvidth  ;  wmg-coverts  brownish  gray;  upper  tail -coverts  black; 
belly  white,  the  lower  belly  more  or  less  finely  barred  with  black  ;  under  tail- 
coverts  black;  sides  like  the  bach.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts  dark  grayish  brown, 
darker  on  the  rump,  the  feathers  more  or  less  margined  with  buify  or  ashy  ; 
sides  of  the  head  lighter ;  upper  throat  white ;  neck  bufty  ochraceous ;  breast 
and  sides  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  washed  or  margined  with  buffy  or  buffy 
ochraceous ;  belly  white ;  lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  tinged  with 
ochraceous ;  an  indistinct  bluish-gray  band  across  the  end  of  the  bill.  L., 
19-00;  W.,  8-90;  Tar.,  1-55;  B.,  1-85. 

■    Eemarhs. — This  species  is  frequently  confused  with  the  Canvasback,  from 
which  it  may  be  distinguished  by  the  chai'acters  given  under  that  species. 

The  female  Redhead  is  much  like  the  female  Ring-neck  in  coloration  ;  the 
latter  is  generally  browner,  but  they  can  be  distinguished  with  certainty  only 
by  the  dift'erence  in  their  size. 

Bange. — North  America;  breeds  from  California  and  Minnesota  north- 
ward to  the  fur  countries ;  rare  on  the  North  Atlantic  coast,  where  it  has  been 
found  breeding  only  once  (Calais,  Me.) ;  winters  from  Virginia  southward  to 
Cuba  and  Jamaica. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.  Long  Island,  T.  V.  in  irregular  numbers, 
Oct.  1  to  Apl.  15,  few  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V,,  Apl.  1  to  Apl.  24 ; 
Oct.  12  to  Oct.  28.     Cambridge,  casual ;  one  instance,  Oct. 

Nest.,  on  the  ground  in  grassy  sloughs  or  marshy  lake  sides.  Eggs.,  six  to 
twelve,  buflry  white,  2-40  x  1-70. 

The  Ducks  of  the  genus  Aythya  possess  to  some  extent  the  habits 
of  both  the  River  Ducks  and  true  Sea  Ducks,  They  are  divers  in  deep 
water,  but  along  the  shores  or  in  shallow  water  they  are  also  "  dab- 
blers." On  our  coasts  the  Redhead  is  a  Bay  Duck,  and  feeds  in  salt 
and  brackish  water. 

147.  Aythya  vallisneria  (Wils.).  Canvasback.  Ad.  i. — Head 
and  neck  rufous-brown,  the  chin  and  crown  generally  hlachisli ;  breast  and 
upper  back  black;  rest  of  the  back  and  gQx\^x2^\^  wing -coverts  finely  barred 
with  wavy  lines  of  black  and  white,  the  white  lines  the  wider ;  belly  white ; 
lower  belly  more  or  less  finely  barred  with  black  ;  upper  and  under  tail-cov- 
erts black  ;  sides  loMte^  much  less  lightly  barred  with  wavy  black  lines  than 
the  back,  or  even  entirely  without  bars.  Ad.  9  . — Head,  neck,  upper  breast, 
and  upper  back  cinnamon,  the  throat  lighter,  and,  with  the  front  parts  of  the 
head,  more  or  less  washed  with  rufous;  back  grayish  brown,  the  featliers 
more  or  less  barred  with  wavy  white  lines;  belly  white  or  grayish  white; 
sides  the  same  or  grayish  brown,  generally  marked  like  the  back.  L.,  21-00; 
W.,  900 ;  Tar.,  1-60  ;  B.,  2-40. 

Remarhs. — This  species  is  sometimes  mistaken  for  the  Redhead,  to  which 
it  bears  a  general  resemblance.  The  males  of  the  two  species  may  be  distin- 
guished (1)  by  the  color  of  the  head  and  neck,  which  is  rufous  in  the  Red- 


SEA   DUCKS.  Ill 

head  and  rufous-brown  in  the  Canvasback ;  (2)  by  the  generally  blackish 
chin  and  crown  of  the  Canvasback,  these  parts  in  the  Eedhead  being  colored 
like  the  rest  of  the  head;  (3)  by  the  ditference  in  the  mai'kings  of  the  back, 
wing-coverts,  and  sides ;  and  (4)  by  the  difference  in  the  size  and  shape  of  the 
bill,  as  shown  by  the  accompanying  measurements.  The  females  of  the  two 
species  may  be  at  once  distinguished  by  the  color  of  the  back,  which  in  the 
Canvasback  is  finely  barred  with  wavy  white  lines,  markings  which  do  not 
appear  on  the  back  of  the  female  Redhead. 

Range. — North  xlmerica ;  breeds  only  in  the  interior,  from  Minnesota  to 
the  Arctic  Circle  ;  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Delaware ;  winters  from 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  to  the  Greater  Antilles. 

Washington,  rare  W.  V.  Long  Island,  rare  T.  V.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T,  V., 
Oct. 

Nest.,  on  the  ground,  in  grassy  sloughs  or  marshy  lake  sides.  Eggs.,  six  to 
ten,  buft'y  white  with  a  bluish  tinge,  2-40  x  1'70. 

There's  much  in  a  name.  The  reputation  of  the  Canvasback,  among 
gourmands,  is  too  firmly  established  to  be  questioned ;  but,  given  the 
same  chef,  and-  half  st  dozen  of  our  Ducks  can  be  made  to  do  duty  for 
this  favorite  of  epicures.  In  some  parts  of  the  west,  where  folks  have 
a  way  of  thinking  for  themselves,  the  Canvasback  is  frankly  placed 
second  to  his  cousin  the  Redhead. 

The  Canvasback  is  at  its  best  when  the  bird  has  been  for  some  time 
feeding  on  wild  celery— a  diet  which  equally  improves  the  flesh  of 
other  species. 

148.  Aythya  marila.  nearctica  Stejn.   Am.  ScatjpDuok;  Greater 

Scaup  Duck  ;  Broadbill  ;  Bluebill  ;  Blackhead.  Ad.  $  . — Head,  neck, 
breast,  and  upper  back  black,  the  top  and  sides  of  the  head  with  generally 
greenish  reflections;  back  and  scapulars  with  wavy  black  and  white  bars; 
speculum  white ;  upper  and  under  tail-coverts  black ;  belly  white ;  lower 
belly  strongly  and  sides  faintly  marked  with  wavy  black  bars.  Ad.  9 . — 
Region  around  the  base  of  the  bill  'wJiite  ;  head,  neck,  breast,  and  upper  back 
umber,  margined  with  ochraceous  on  the  breast ;  back  and  scapulars  fuscous- 
brown;  sides  dark  grayish  brown,  both  generally  marked  with  fine,  wavy 
bars,  of  white ;  speculum  and  belly  white.  $  L.,  18'50 ;  W.,  8"75 ;  Tar.,  1'40 ; 
B.,  1-65;  greatest  width  of  B.,  1-00.  9  L.,  17-50;  W.,  8-25;  Tar.,  1-36;  B., 
1-65;  greatest  width  of  B.,  1-00. 

Range. — -North  America;  breeds  in  the  interior  rarely  from  Minnesota 
and.  regularly  from  Manitoba  northward  to  Alaska ;  reported  on  the  Atlan- 
tic from  as  far  north  as  Greenland,  but  not  known  to  breed  and  not  common 
north  of  Massachusetts ;  winters  from  Long  Island  to  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  rather  common  W.  V.  Long  Island,  abundant  T.  V.,  Sept. 
25  to  May  1,  some  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  22  to  Apl.  13; 
Oct.  4  to.Dec.  3.* 

*  The  presence  or  absence  of  Ducks  in  the  winter  depends  upon  whether  the 
river  is  frozen  or  open. 


112  SEA  DUCKS. 

Nest^  on  the  ground,  in  grassy  sloughs  or  marshy  lake  sides.  Eggs^  six  to 
ten,  pale  olive-buff,  2-54  x  1-71. 

This  is  one  of  our  most  common  Bay  Ducks.  While  with  us  it 
seems  to  prefer  salt  and  brackish  water.  It  feeds  largely  on  mollusks, 
which  it  obtains  by  diving.  Its  note  is  said  to  be  a  discordant 
scaup. 

149.  Aythya  affinis  {Eyt.).  Lesser  Scaup  Duck;  Little  Black- 
head  ;  Little  Bluebill  ;  Creek  Broadbill.  Ad.  &  . — Similar  to  the  pre- 
ceding species  but  smaller,  the  head,  as  a  rule,  glossed  with  purplish  instead 
of  greenish,  and  the  flanks  strongly  instead  of  faintly  marked  with  wavy 
black  bars.  Ad.  2  . — Similar  to  the  9  of  the  preceding  species,  but  smaller. 
$  L.,  16-50;  W.,  8-00;  Tar.,  1-35;  B.,  1-60;  greatest  width  of  B.,  -95.  ?  L., 
16-50;  W.,  7-60;  Tar.,  1-30;  B.,  1-55;  greatest  width  of  B.,  -90. 

Eemarhs. — The  Scaup  Ducks  resemble  each  other  so  closely  that  it  is 
sometimes  impossible  to  tell  them  apart,  but  they  may  generally  be  distin- 
guished by  the  characters  given  above. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  only  in  the  interior,  rarely  from  Iowa 
and  commonly  from  Manitoba  northward;  not  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast 
north  of  Massachusetts ;  wintei-s  from  Virginia  to  the  Greater  Antilles. 

Washington,  not  uncommon  W.  R.,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  common  T. 
V.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Jan.  28  to  Apl.  12 ;  Aug.  31  to  Nov.  Cam- 
bridge, common  in  Oct.  and  Nov. ;  rare  in  spring. 

Aes^,  on  the  ground,  in  grassy  sloughs  and  marshy  lake  sides.  Eggs^  six 
to  ten,  similar  in  color  to  those  of  the  preceding,  2-25  x  1-58. 

This  species  has  much  the  same  habits  as  the  preceding,  but  is  more 
often  found  in  fresh  water,  and  I  think  is  more  southern  in  its  distri- 
bution during  the  winter.  It  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  Duck  in 
Florida  waters  at  that  season,  where  it  occurs  in  enormous  flocks  in 
the  rivers  and  bays  along  the  coasts. 

150.  Aythya   collaris   {Donov.).     Ring-necked   Duck.    Ad.  $. — 

Chin  tvhite  ;  head,  neck,  breast,  and  upper  back  black,  the  head  with  bluish 
reflections,  the  neck  with  a  not  sharply  defined  chestnut  collar ;  back  and 
scapulars  black.,  speculum  gray ;  upper  and  under  tail-coverts  black,  belly 
white,  lower  belly  and  sides  finely  barred  with  wavy  black  lines ;  bill  black, 
the  base  and  a  band  across  the  end  bluish  gray.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts  fus- 
cous brown,  more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous ;  speculum  gray  /  sides  of 
the  head  and  neck  mixed  grayish  brown  and  white ;  breast,  sides,  and  lower 
belly  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous ;  upper  belly 
white  or  whitish ;  bill  blackish,  an  indistinct  band  of  bluish  gray  across  its 
end.    L.,  16-50 ;  W.,  7-50 ;  Tar.,  1-25 ;  B.,  1-80. 

Remarks. — The  male  Ring-neck  may  be  known  from  any  of  its  allies  by 
its  chestnut  collar  and  other  excellent  characters ;  the  female  resembles  the 
female  Redhead,  but  is  smaller  and  generally  browner. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  only  in  the  interior  from  Iowa  north- 
ward ;  not  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Virginia. 


SEA   DUCKS.  113 

Washington,  not  rare,  W.  V.  Long  Island,  A.  V.  Sing  Sing,  A.  V.,  Apl. 
Cambridge,  casual ;  one  instance,  Nov. 

Nest^  on  the  ground,  in  grassy  sloughs  or  marshy  lake  sides.  Eggs-,  six  to 
twelve,  similar  in  color  to  those  of  the  two  preceding  species,  2-28  x  1-63. 

This  is  more  of  a  fresh-water  bird  than  either  of  the  preceding.  It 
is  not  common  in  the  Atlantic  States  north  of  Florida,  where  during 
the  winter  it  is  abundant  on  fresh-water  lakes. 

151.  Glaucionetta  clangula  americana  {JBonap.).  Americak 
Golden-eye  ;  Whistler.  Ad.  6  . — Head  and  throat  dark,  glossy  green.,  a 
circular  white  patch  at  the  base  of  the  bill  measuring,  along  the  bill,  less 
than  half  an  inch  in  height ;  neck  all  around,  breast,  belly,  exposed  part  of 
wing-coverts,  speculum,  and  most  of  the  scapulars  white ;  rest  of  plumage 
black.  Ad.  9  . — Head  and  throat  cinnamon-brown,  fore  neck  white ;  upper 
breast,  back,  and  sides  ashy  gray  bordered  with  grayish  ;  wing-coverts  tipped 
with  white  ;  speculum,  lower  breast,  and  belly  white.  L.,  20-00 ;  W.,  9-00 ;  B, 
from  anterior  margin  of  white  patch  to  anterior  margin  of  nostril,  1-00 ;  from 
anterior  margin  of  nostril  to  tip,  "75. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  Manitoba  and  Maine  northward, 
and  wintering  from  the  southern  limit  of  its  breeding  range  to  Cuba. 

Washington,  not  rare,  W.  V.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V.  and  W.  V., 
Nov.  15  to  Apl.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.  and  W.  V.,  Nov.  to  May. 
Cambridge,  rather  common,  Oct.  and  Nov. 

Nest.,  in  a  stump  or  hollow  tree.     Eggs.,  six  to  ten,  pale  bluish,  2-35  x  1-75, 

The  rapidly  moving  wings  of  most  Ducks  make  a  whistling  sound, 
but  this  species  excels  in  wing  music.  As  a  diver  it  can  also  claim 
high  rank. 

152.  Glaucionetta   islandica  {Gmel.\    Barrow's  Golden-eye. 

Ad.  $  .-Head  and  throat  dark,  glossy,  purplish  blue,  an  irregular,  somewhat 
spread-wi?ig-shaped  white  patch  at  the  base  of  the  bill  measuring,  along  the 
bill,  about  one  inch  in  height;  neck  all  around,  breast,  belly,  speculum,  lesser 
wing-coverts,  ends  of  greater  ones,  and  the  shaft  part  of  the  scapulars  white; 
rest  of  the  plumage  black.  Ad.  9  .-Kesembles  the  9  of  the  preceding  species 
in  color;  there  is  some  difference  in  the  size  and  proportions  of  the'bill,  but 
the  two  birds  can  not  always  be  distinguished  with  certainty.  W.,  9-25 ;  B. 
from  anterior  margin  of  white  patch  to  anterior  margin  of  nostril,  -80 ;  from 
anterior  margin  of  nostril  to  tip,  -66. 

Bemarks.—The  males  of  this  and  the  preceding  species  may  always  be 
distinguished  by  the  difference  in  the  color  of  the  head  and  size  and  shape  of 
the  white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  bill. 

Bange.— Breeds  in  the  far  north— Greenland,  Iceland,  and  Alaska-and 
southward  in  the  Eocky  Mountains ;  winters  as  far  south  as  Illinois  and  Vir- 
ginia. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  one  record.     Long  Island,  A.  V. 

JVest,  in  a  stump  or  hollow  tree.    Eggs,  six  to  ten,  pale  bluish,  2-40  x  1-70- 


114  SEA   DUCKS. 

A  more  northern  species  than  the  preceding,  which  it  resembles  in 
habits. 

153.  Charitonetta  SiVbeolSi  (Limi.).    Bufflehkad;  Butter-ball: 

Spirit  Duck.  Ad.  $  . — A  broad  white  band  passes  around  the  back  of  the 
head  from  eye  to  eye ;  rest  of  the  head,  upper  neck,  and  throat  beautifully 
glossed  with  purple,  greenish,  and  bluish  ;  lower  neck  all  around,  breast,  belly, 
wing-coverts,  speculum,  and  outer  scapulars  white ;  back  black ;  upper  tail- 
coverts  and  tail  ashy-grayish.  Ad.  9  . — A  white  patch  on  either  side  of  the 
head,  throat,  and  entire  upper  parts  fuscous-brown ;  speculum,  breast,  and 
belly  white.     L.,  14-75  ;  W.,  6-50 ;  Tar.,  1-25 ;  B.,  1-05. 

.Ea?ige.— 'North  America:,  breeds  from  Iowa  and  Maine  northward ;  win- 
ters from  near  the  southern  limit  of  its  breeding  range  to  the  West  Indies  and 
Mexico. 

Washington,  common  W,  V.,  Sept.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V. 
and  W.  v.,  Oct.  1  to  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V,  CambridgBf 
common  in  Oct.  and  Nov. 

JVest,  in  a  stump  or  hollow  tree,  ^ffffs,  six  to  twelve,  dull  light  buff, 
1-98  X  1-46  (Kidgw.). 

This  small  Duck  has  won  deserved  distinction  through  its  powers 
as  a  diver.  Like  the  Grebes,  it  "  dives  at  the  flash,"  though  this  well- 
worn  expression  has  lost  half  its  meaning  since  flintlocks  and  percus- 
sion caps  have  become  things  of  the  past.  The  Bufflehead  feeds  to 
some  extent  on  small  fish,  which  it  pursues  and  catches  under  water. 

154.  Clangula  hyemalis  (Linn.).  Old  Squaw  ;  Old  Wife;  South 
Southerly.  Ad.  6  in  winter. — Sides  of  the  front  of  the  head  washed  with 
grayish  brown;  sides  of  the  back  of  the  head  and  sides  of  the  upper  neck 
black,  more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous ;  rest  of  the  head,  neck  all 
around,  upper  back,  scapulars,  and  lower  belly  white ;  back,  breast,  and 
upper  belly  black ;  tail  pointed,  the  middle  feathers  very  long  and  narrow ; 
band  across  the  end  of  the  bill  yellowish  orange.  Ad.  $  in  summer. — Sides 
of  the  front  of  the  head  white;  crest  of  the  head,  neck,  throat,  breast,  and 
upper  belly  black ;  back  and  scapulars  black,  the  latter  margined  with  dark 
buify  ochraceous ;  lower  belly  white ;  tail  and  bill  as  in  the  preceding.  9  in 
winter. — Upper  parts  black  or  fuscous;  scapulars  and  upper  back  more  or 
less  margined  with  grayish  or  grayish  brown ;  sides  of  the  head  and  neck 
and  sometimes  the  back  of  the  neck  white  or  whitish  ;  breast  grayish  ;  belly 
white;  tail  pointed,  but  without  the  long  feathers  of  the  male;  under  wing- 
coverts  dark.  Ad.  9  in  summer. — Generally  similar  to  the  above,  but  the 
sides  of  the  head  and  throat  mostly  blackish,  and  the  feathers  of  the  upper 
parts  more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous.  L.,  5  ,  21-00,  9  ,  16-00  ;  W.,  8-60; 
T.,  5,  8-00,  9,  2-50;  B.,  1-05. 

Remarlcs. — The  male  Old  Squaw  is  too  distinct  to  be  confused  with  any 
other  species,  its  long  tail-feathers  beinor  its  most  striking  character;  the 
female  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  female  of  the  Harlequin  Duck,  but  has 
the  belly  pure  white  instead  of  grayish  dusky. 


SEA   DUCKS.  115 

Range. — Northern  hemisphere ;  breeds  in  the  far  north,  and,  in  America, 
winters  as  far  south  as  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  and  Virginia. 

Washington,  rare  W,  V.,  Nov.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  abundant  W.  V., 
Nov.  1  to  Apl.  15.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  W.  V.,  Dec.  4  to  Apl.  6. 
Cambridge,  rather  common  in  Oct.  and  Nov. 

Aes^,  on  the  ground  near  water,  under  low  bushes  or  tall  grasses.  Eggs^ 
six  to  twelve,  pale  bluish  tinged  with  olive,  2-05  x  1'49. 

In  The  Auk  for  1892,  pp.  330-337,  Mr.  George  H.  Mackay  gives  a 
capital  account  of  the  habits  of  this  species  in  our  waters.  He  speaks 
of  them  as  the  swiftest  flying  as  well  as  the  noisiest  (in  the  spring)  of 
all  the  sea  fowl  which  tarry  with  us,  and  gives  their  curious  scolding  or 
talking  notes  as  o-onc-o-onc-ough,  egh-ough-egh.  Their  flight  is  gen- 
erally near  the  water,  and  when  shot  at  while  flying  they  sometimes 
dive  from  the  wing.  He  also  mentions  their  habit  of  towering,  "  usually 
in  the  afternoon,  collecting  in  mild  weather  in  large  flocks  if  undis- 
turbed, and  going  up  in  circles  so  high  as  to  be  scarcely  discernible, 
often  coming  down  with  a  rush  and  great  velocity,  a  portion  of  the 
flock  scattering  and  coming  down,  in  a  zigzag  course  similar  to  the 
Scoters  when  whistled  down." 

155.  Histrionicusliistrionicus(Z^»/^.).  Harlequin  Duck.  Ad.  6. 
'—Center  of  the  crown  black,  margined  by  white  and  rufous ;  front  of  the  sides 
of  the  head,  a  spot  on  the  ear,  a  stripe  back  of  it,  and  a  collar  around  the  back 
and  sides  of  the  neck  white ;  rest  of  the  head  and  throat  rich  slaty  blue ;  a 
band  in  front  of  the  wing  white,  margined  with  black  ;  inner  scapulars  white ; 
back  and  breast  bluish  slate  ;  belly  fuscous ;  sides  rufous-chestnut.  Ad.  $  .— 
Front  of  the  head  whitish ;  a  white  spot  on  the  ears;  upper  parts  brownish 
fuscous;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  lighter;  belly  grayish  brown,  margined  with 
whitish.    L.,  17-00 ;  W.,  7-80 ;  Tar.,  1-50 ;  B.,  1-05. 

Range.— '•'■  Northern  North  America,  breeding  from  Newfoundland,  the 
northern  Eocky  Mountains,  and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  northward;  south  in 
winter  to  the  Middle  States  and  California"  (A.  O.  U.). 

Long  Island,  rare  W.  V. 

Nest,  on  the  ground  or  in  hollow  stumps  near  water.  Eggs,  six  to  eight, 
yellowish  butf  or  greenish  yellow,  2-30  x  1-62  (Davie). 

Unlike  other  members  of  this  subfamily,  this  species  passes  the 
breeding  season  on  rapid  dashing  streams,  but  during  the  winter  it 
occurs  as  a  Sea  Duck  off  our  more  northern  coasts. 

156.  Camptolaimus  labradorius  (GmeL).  Labradob  Duck; 
Pied  Duck.  Ad.  $  .—Center  of  crown  black  ;  rest  of  head,  throat,  and  upper 
neck  white;  a  black  band  around  the  lower  neck  connected  behind  with  the 
black  back ;  primaries  fuscous,  rest  of  wing  white ;  front  and  sides  of  the 
upper  breast  white,  lower  breast  and  belly  black.  Ad.  9  .—Brownish  gray, 
the  speculum  white.  Im.  S  .—Like  the  9  ,  but  with  the  throat  and  ends  of 
the  greater  wing-coverts  white.    L.,  2000 ;  W.,  8-40 ;  Tar.,  1-50 ;  B.,  1-58. 


lie  SEA  DUCKS. 

Range. — Formerly,  North  Atlantic  coast,  breeding  from  Labrador  north- 
ward, and  in  winter  migrating  southward  to  Long  Island ;  doubtless  now 
extinct. 

In  a  recent  paper*  on  this  species  Mr.  William  Butcher  quotes 
the  late  Mr.  George  N.  Lawrence,  as  follows :  "  I  recollect  that 
about  forty  or  more  years  ago  it  was  not  unusual  to  see  them  in 
Fulton  Market,  and  without  doubt  killed  on  Long  Island;  at  one 
time  I  remember  seeing  six  fine  males,  which  hung  in  the  market 
until  spoiled  for  want  of  a  purchaser ;  they  were  not  considered  de- 
sirable for  the  table,  and  collectors  had  a  sufiicient  number,  at  that 
time  a  pair  being  considered  enough  to  represent  a  species  in  a  col- 
lection." 

The  cause  of  this  Duck's  extinction  is  unknown.  The  last  speci- 
men, so  far  as  known,  was  taken  at  Grand  Menan  in  1871. f  Forty-two 
specimens  have  been  recorded  as  existing  in  collections. 

Steller's  Duck  {157.  Eniconetta  stelleri).,  an  arctic  species,  was  observed 
by  Kumlien  in  Greenland. 

159.  Somateria  moUissima  borealis  (Brelim).  GnEEi^LAifit 
Eider.  Ad.  $, . — Top  of  the  head  black,  a  greenish  white  line  on  the  crown ; 
rest  of  the  head,  throat,  neck,  upper  breast,  back,  scapulars,  and  lesser  wing- 
coverts  white,  tinged  with  greenish  on  the  sides  and  back  of  the  head,  and 
with  vinacfeous  on  the  breast ;  middle  of  the  rump,  upper  and  under  tail- 
coverts,  lower  breast,  and  belly  black.  Ad.  9  . — Head,  throat,  and  neck  buffy 
ochraceous,  darker  above  and  streaked  with  black ;  back  black,  the  feathers 
all  widely  margined  and  sometimes  partly  barred  with  buffy  ochraceous  ; 
breast  buffy  ochraceous,  barred  with  black ;  belly  gi-ayish  brown  or  olive- 
brown,  indistinctly  margined  or  barred  with  buffy.  Im.. — Similar,  but  dis- 
tinctly marked  with  buffy.     L.,  23-00  ;  W.,  11-00  ;  Tar.,  1-80  ;  B.,  2-10. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Labrador  northward  ;  winters  southward  to  Maine. 

Nest.,  on  the  ground,  amid  coarse  herbage  and  rocks.  Eggs.,  five  to  eight, 
pale  bluish  or  greenish,  tinged  with  olive,  2-'95  x  2-00. 

This  is  the  American  representative  of  the  Eider  Duck  of  north- 
ern Europe,  from  which  it  differs  only  slightly.  The  highly  prized 
Eider  down  is  taken  from  the  nest  of  this  bird  and  its  allies.  As  in- 
cubation progresses  the  sitting  bird  plucks  the  down  from  her  breast 
to  serve  as  a  nest  lining.  In  Iceland,  according  to  Saunders,  the  aver- 
age yield  from  each  nest  is  about  one  sixth  of  a  pound.  When  the 
females  begin  to  sit  the  males  leave  them  and,  gathering  in  small 
flocks,  live  at  sea. 

160*  Somatena  dresseiri  tSharpe.  American  Eider.  Kesembles 
the  preceding  in  color,  but  differs  in  the  feathering  of  the  base  of  the  cul- 

*  The  Auk,  vol.  viii,  1891,  pp.  201-216.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  xi,  1894,  pp.  4-12. 


SEA   DUCKS.  117 

men.  In  both  species  the  culmen  is  divided  by  a  wedge  of  feathers  reaching 
forward  from  the  forehead.  Looked  at  from  the  tip  of  the  bill,  the  base  of 
the  culmen  is  thus  V-shaped.  In  dresseri  the  arms  of  the  V  are  very  broad 
and  rounded  at  the  ends,  while  in  borealis  they  are  much  narrower  and  gen- 
erally pointed  at  the  ends.     L.,  23-00  ;  W.,  1 1-30  ;  Tar.,  I'YO  ;  B.,  2-10. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to  Labrador  ;  winters  southward 
to  Delaware ;  occasional  in  winter  on  the  Great  Lakes. 

Long  Island,  rare  W.  V.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V.,  Dec. 

Nest.^  on  the  ground,  generally  sheltered  by  rocks.  Eggs.,  five  to  eight 
pale  bluish  or  greenish,  tinged  with  olive,  3-00  x  2*00. 

This  species  is  of  more  southern  distribution  than  the  preceding, 
which  it  resembles  in  habits.  During  their  visits  to  the  coasts  of  the 
United  States  the  Eiders  are  true  Sea  Ducks,  living  some  distance  off 
shore,  generally  over  a  bed  of  mussels,  which  they  secure  by  diving, 
and  which  constitute  their  chief  food. 

162.  Somateria  spectabilis  {Linn.).  King  Eider.  Ad.  $. — 
Eegion  about  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible  and  a  large  V-shaped  mark  on 
the  throat  black  ;  top  of  the  head  bluish  gray ;  cheeks  greenish  ;  neck  all 
around  white;  front  and  sides  of  the  breast  creamy  bull';  upper  back,  sides 
of  the  rump,  and  wing-coverts  white ;  rest  of  the  plumage  black.  Ad.  9  .— 
Head  and  throat  buffy  ochraceous,  the  former  streaked  with  black;  back 
black,  the  feathers  widely  margined  with  ochraceous  or  rufous ;  under  parts 
varying  from  brownish  gray  to  fuscous,  more  or  less  washed,  especially  on 
the  breast,  with  ochraceous  or  rufous,  /w.— Paler  and  with  less  ochraceous. 
L.,  23-00  ;  W.,  10-80  ;  Tar.,  1-80  ;  B.,  1-30. 

Bemarh.— The  adult  male  of  this  species  may  at  once  be  known  by  its 
bluish-gray  head  and  the  V-shaped  mark  on  its  throat.  Females  and  young 
birds  resemble  those  of  the  two  preceding  species,  but  are  to  be  distinguished 
by  the  generally  unstreaked  throat  and  the  feathering  of  the  side  of  the  base 
of  the  bill,  which  in  this  species  does  not,  as  in  the  two  preceding,  reach  to 
the  nostril. 

Bange.— Breeds  from  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  northward,  and  winters  south- 
ward more  or  less  regularly  to  Long  Island  and  the  Great  Lakes  ;  casually  as 
far  as  Virginia,  and  on  one  occasion  Georgia. 

Long  Island,  regular  W.  V. 

JVest,  on  the  ground,  among  rocks  or  herbage.  Eggs,  six  to  ten,  light  olive- 
gray  to  grayish  green,  3-12  x  1-92  (Davie). 

While  in  our  waters  this  species  does  not  differ  from  the  preceding 
in  habits. 

163.  Oidemia  americana  Sw.  and  Rich.  American  Scoter; 
Black  Coot.  Ad.  S  .—Entire  plumage  black,  feathers  on  the  side  of  the  bill 
extending  little  if  any  forward  beyond  the  corner  of  the  mouth;  bill  black; 
upper  mandible  orange  or  yellowish  at  the  base.  L.,  19-00 ;  W.,  9-00 ;  Tar., 
1-70 ;  B.  along  culmen,  1-75  ;  B.  along  side,  1-85. 

Range. — Coasts  and  larger  lakes  of  northern  North  America ;  breeds  in 


lis  SEA   DUCKS. 

Labrador  and  the  northern  interior ;  south  in  winter  to  Virginia,  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  California. 

Washington,  casual  "W.  V.  Long  Island,  common  W.  V.,  Oct.  through 
Apl.     Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Oct.     Cambridge,  occasional  in  fall. 

Nest,  on  the  ground,  near  water.  EggSy  "  six  to  ten,  pale  dull  buff  or  pale 
brownish  buff",  2-55  x  1-80  "  (Kidgw.). 

All  three  species  of  Surf  Scoters,  or  "  Coots,"  are  abundant  winter 
residents  off  the  coasts  of  the  New  England  and  northern  Middle 
States.  At  this  time  their  habits  are  practically  alike — indeed,  they 
are  often  found  associated.  As  a  rule,  they  frequent  only  the  sea 
and  its  estuaries,  where  they  live  over  beds  of  mussels,  clams,  or 
scallops,  which  they  obtain  by  diving ;  but  they  are  sometimes  found 
in  ponds  near  the  coast,  where  food  of  this  nature  is  abundant. 

In  The  Auk  for  1891,  pp.  279-290,  Mr.  George  H.  Mackay  gives  the 
results  of  a  long-continued  study  of  Scoters  on  the  Massachusetts 
coast. 

The  Velvet  Scoter  {I64.  Oidemia  fvsca)  is  an  Old- World  species  which 
has  been  recorded  from  Greenland. 

165.  Oidemia.  deglandi  Bonap.  White-winged  Scoter;  White- 
winged  Coot.  Ad.  $, . — A  spot  below  the  eye  and  the  speculum  wldte.,  rest 
of  the  plumage  black;  bill  orange-black  at  the  base,  the  feathers  on  it  reach- 
ing forward  far  beyond  the  corners  of  the  mouth.  Im.  $, . — Grayish  or  fus- 
cous-brown, lighter  below ;  speculum  wMte,  feathers  at  the  base  of  the  upper 
bill  and  a  spot  on  the  ears  whitish.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im.  ? . — Similar  to 
the  preceding,  but  generally  without  whitish  spots  on  the  head.  L.,  22'00 ; 
W.,  11-00  ;  Tar.,  2-00  ;  B.  along  culmen,  1*50  ;  B.  along  side,  1-55. 

Eemarls. — The  white  speculum  and  feathering  of  the  bill  will  always 
serve  to  distinguish  this  species  from  its  allies. 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  breeding  in  Labrador  and  the  fur 
countries  ;  south  in  winter  to  Virginia,  southern  Illinois,  and  California. 

Washington,  casual  W.  V.,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  abundant  W.  V., 
Sept.  15  to  May  15.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.  Cambridge,  occa- 
sional in  fall. 

Mst.,  on  the  ground,  beneath  bushes,  frequently  some  distance  from  water. 
Eggs,  "  six  to  ten,  pale  dull  buff,  varying  to  cream-color,  2-68  x  1-83  "  (Eidgw.). 

166.  Oidemia  perspicillata  (Linn.).  Surf  Scoter;  Sea  Coot. 
Ad.  6  .—A  square  mark  on  the  crown  and  a  triangular  one  on  the  nape  white, 
rest  of  the  plumage  black  ;  bill  orange- v ell ow,  a  large  circular  black  spot  on 
its  side  at  the  base  ;  feathers  on  the  culmen  extending  nearly  to  a  level  with 
the  nostril,  feathers  on  tlie  side  of  the  bill  not  extending  forward.  Ad.  9 
and  7m.— A  whitish  spot  at  the  base  of  the  bill  and  on  the  ears  ;  upper  parts 
fuscous  brown  ;  throat,  breast,  sides,  and  lower  belly  grayer,  belly  white.  L., 
20-00  ;  W.,  9-30 ;  Tar.,  1-60  ;  B.  along  culmen,  1-55 ;  B.  along  t>ide,  2-30. 

Eemarks.— The   forward   extension  of  the   feathers  on  the  culmen  will 


GEESE.  119 

always  distinguish  this  species  from  0.  americaiw..,  while  it  may  be  known 
from  deglandi  by  the  absence  of  white  in  the  wings. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  northward ;  winters  south- 
ward to  the  Great  Lakes  and  Virginia,  and  casually  to  Florida. 

Washington,  casual  W.  V.  Long  Island,  common  W.  V.,  Oct.  through 
Apl.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Oct.  7  to  Oct.  22.  Cambridge,  occasional 
in  fall. 

Nest^i  in  tall  grasses  near  water.  Eggs.,  "  five  to  eight,  pale  buff  or  pale 
creamy  buff",  2-47  x  170  "  (Kidgw.). 

167.  Erismatura  rubida  (  WiU.).  Kuddy  Duck.  Ad.  ^  .—Top  oi 
the  head  black,  cheeks  and  chin  white,  throat  and  back  rufous-chestnut, 
lower  back  blackish  ;  breast  and  belly  silvery  white  ;  upper  tail-coverts  very 
short,  tail-feathers  stiff  and  pointed.  Ad.  5  and  Im. — Upper  parts  dark  gray- 
ish brown,  the  feathers  marked  with  fine  wavy  bars  of  buffy ;  sides  of  the 
head  and  upper  throat  whitish,  lower  throat  grayish,  rest  of  the  under  parts 
silvery  white.    L.,  15-00  ;  W.,  5-90  ;  Tar.,  1-15  ;  B.,  1-55. 

Remarks. — The  short  upper  tail-coverts  and  stiff,  pointed  tail-feathers  will 
always  serve  to  identify  this  species. 

Range. — Of  general  distribution  from  nortiiern  South  America  to  the  fur 
countries,  breeding  largely  northward,  but  locally  throughout  its  range 
(Granada,  Wells  ;  Guatemala,  Salvin ;  Cuba,  Gundlach  ;  Cape  Cod,  Miller). 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  irregular  T.  V. 
Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  14  to  Apl.  6;  Oct.  5  to  Oct.  28.  Cambridge, 
very  common  in  Oct.  and  Nov. 

Nest.,  in  a  slough  or  marshy  place,  generally  on  a  mass  of  floating  vegeta- 
tion.   Eggs.,  six  to  ten,  creamy  or  buffy  white,  2-50  x  1-80. 

"  When  rising  from  the  water,  it  runs  on  the  surface  for  some  dis 
tance.  and  generally  against  the  wind.  If  it  can  not  command  a  fair 
open  space  for  flight,  it  will  dive,  using  its  tail  either  as  a  rudder  or  as 
a  paddle  in  a  vertical  motion,  and  will  hide  itself  away  among  the 
grass  and  sedges.  When  on  the  wing,  it  flies  low  along  the  surface  of 
tlie  water,  with  a  rapid  beat  of  its  broad  wings,  making  a  short,  plump 
figure  quite  uncommon  for  a  Duck ;  and  it  generally  flies  quite  a  dis- 
tance before  alighting  "  (Langiile).  In  swimming,  the  tail  is  sometimes 
held  erect  at  right  angles  to  the  body. 

The  Masked  Duck  {168.  Nomonyx  dominicus)  is  a  tropical  species  of 
rare  occurrence  in  North  America.  Single  specimens  have  been  taken  in 
Wisconsin,  New  York,  and  near  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Subfamily  Anserinm.     Geese. 

Geese  are  vegetarians.  When  on  the  water,  they  feed  largely  by 
tipping,  as  with  head  and  neck  immersed  and  tail  pointing  skyward 
they  search  for  the  roots  or  seeds  of  aquatic  plants.  They  are  far 
more  terrestrial  than  Ducks,  and  visit  the  land  to  nip  the  herbage, 


120  GEESE. 

young  corn,  or  cereals.  When  wounded,  they  dive  readily  and,  with 
their  body  just  below  the  surface  of  the  water  and  only  the  bill  ex- 
posed, head  for  the  shore,  where  they  attempt  to  hide  in  the  vegetation. 
In  migrating,  the  flock  is  formed  in  a  V-shaped  wedge,  the  lead,  it 
is  said,  being  taken  by  an  old  gander. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

i.  Whole  head  or  forehead  white. 
A.  Bill  yellowish. 

a.  Forehead  and  feathers  at  the  base  of  bill  white. 

171a.  Am.  White-fronted  Goose  (Ad.), 

b.  Head  and  neck  white  or  grayish,  sometimes  tinged  with  rusty. 
b^.  Primaries  black,  rest  of  plumage  white. 

169.  Lesser  Snow  Goose.     169a.  Greater  Snow  Goose. 
b^.  Back  grayish  brown,  rump  and  belly  whitish,  wing-coverts  and 
tertials  widely  margined  with  white.    .     .     .     169.  Lesser  Snow 
Goose  (Im.).     169a.  Greater  Snow  Goose  (Im.). 
b*.  Back  grayish  brown,  rump,  belly,  and  wing-coverts  gray,  the  lat- 
ter not  conspicuously  margined  with  white. 

169.1.  Blue  Goose  (Ad.). 
JS.  Bill  black,  throat  and  sides  of  the  head  white,  lores  black. 

175.  Barnacle  Goose. 
IL  Head  and  neck  brown,  bill  yellow  or  yellowish. 

A.  Nail  of  bill  black,  rump  fuscous. 

171a.  Am.  White-fronted  Goose  (Im.). 

B.  Nail  of  bill  yellow,  rump  gray 169.1.  Blue  Goose  (Im.). 

III.  Head  black  or  brownish  black,  bill  black. 

A.  Throat  white   .    .    .    172.  Canada  Goose.     172a.  Hutchins's  Goose. 
jB.  Throat  black  or  brownish  black,  neck  speckled  with  white. 

a.  Belly  white 173.  Brant. 

b.  Belly  brownish  gray 174.  Black  Brant. 

169.  Chen  hyperborea  (Pall).  Lesser  Snow  Goose.  Ad.— En- 
tire plumage,  except  the  primaries  with  their  coverts,  white;  primaries  black, 
their  bases  and  coverts  ashy.  Im. — "  Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts  pale  gray- 
ish, the  feathers  of  the  latter  with  whitish  edges  and  (especially  wing-coverts 
and  tertials)  striped  medially  with  darker ;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  tail,  and 
lower  parts  plain  white.  L.,  23-00-28-00 ;  W.,  14-50-17-00;  B.,  1-95-2-30; 
Tar.,  2-80-3-25"  (Ridgw.). 

Range. — Western  North  America,  breeding  in  Alaska  and  migrating  south- 
ward to  the  Gulf;  rarely  found  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

£ggs,  uniform  dirty,  chalky  white,  3-40  x  2-20  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

169a;*  C.  h.  nivalis  (Forst.).  Greater  Snow  Goose.— Resembles  the 
preceding  in  color,  but  is  larger.  L.,  30-00-38-00;  W.,  17-35-17-50;  B.,  2-55- 
2-70;  Tar.,  8-15-3-50  CRidgw.). 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  in  the  far  north  (exact  breed- 
ing range  unknown) ;  winters  from  Chesapeake  Bay  to  Cuba ;  rare  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  north  of  Virginia, 


GEESE.  121 

Long  Island,  irregular  from  Oct.  to  Apl.    Sing  Sing,  A.  V.,  Apl. 
Nest  and  eggs  unknown. 

The  Snow  Goose  does  not  appear  to  be  a  common  bird  on  any  part 
of  the  Atlantic  coast.  It  migrates  both  by  night  and  day,  and  when 
on  the  wing  its  white  plumage  and  black-tipped  primaries  render  it 
easily  identifiable.  It  is  a  noisier  bird  than  the  Canada  Goose,  and  its 
voice  is  higher  and  more  cackling. 

169.1.  Chen  caerulescens  {Linn.).    Blue  Goose.    Ad. — Head  and 

upper  neck  white  ;  middle  of  the  hind  neck  sometimes  blackish,  lower  neck  all 
around  fuscous,  rest  of  under  parts  brownish  gray  edged  with  butfy  ;  the  lower 
belly  generally  paler,  sometimes  white ;  upper  back  and  scapulars  like  the 
breast ;  lower  back,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts  gray  ;  tail  fuscous  gray  edged 
with  whitish;  wing-coverts  like  the  rump  or  slightly  darker,  with  little  or 
no  whitish  margins ;  wing-quills  and  tertials  fuscous,  the  latter  more  or  less 
margined  with  whitish.  Im. — "  Similar  to  adult,  but  head  and  neck  uniform 
deep  grayish  brown,  only  the  chin  being  white.  L.,  26"50-30-00 ;  W.,  15-00- 
17-00 ;  B.,  2-10-2-30 ;  Tar.,  3-00-3-30  "  (Eidgw.). 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  in  the  Hudson  Bay  region  and  migrates 
southward,  chiefly  through  the  interior,  to  Texas. 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest  and  eggs  unknown. 

The  Blue  Goose  is  apparently  nowhere  a  common  bird,  and  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  it  is  even  less  common  than  in  the  interior.  It  was  at 
one  time  supposed  to  be  the  young  of  the  Snow  Goose,  which  it  doubt- 
less resembles  in  habits. 

171a.  Anser  albifrons  gambeli  {Hartl.).  American  White- 
fronted  Goose.  Ad. — Forehead  and  region  bordering  the  base  of  the  bill 
white ;  upper  parts  and '  foreneck  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  margined  on 
the  back  with  lighter;  longer  and  lateral  upper  tail-coverts  white;  breast 
somewhat  lighter  than  the  throat,  more  or  less  irregularly  marked  with  black, 
and  fading  gradually  into  pure  white  on  the  lower  belly ;  sides  like  the  back. 
Im. — Similar,  but  no  white  at  the  base  of  the  bill  or  black  marks  on  the 
breast ;  nail  of  the  bill  black.  "  L.,  27-00-30-00 ;  W.,  14-25-17-50 ;  B.,  1-80-2-35  ; 
depth  of  mandible  at  base,  -90-1-20  ;  width,  -85-1-05  ;  Tar.,  2-60-3-20  "  (Eidgw.). 

Range. — "North  America,  breeding  far  northward;  in  winter  south  to 
Mexico  and  Cuba"  (A.  O.  U.) ;  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest.^  on  the  ground,  of  grasses  lined  with  down.  Eggs.,  six  to  seven,  dull 
greenish  yellow  with  obscure  darker  tints,  3-10  x  2-07  (Davie). 

"  These  birds  are  rarely  met  with  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  but  are 
quite  common  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  abundant  on  the  Pacific 
slope.  They  prefer  low,  wet  grounds  in  the  vicinity  of  timber,  or 
where  the  prairie  is  dotted  here  and  there  with  bushes ;  and,  while 
they  occasionally  forage  off  the  wheat  fields  and  other  grains  on  the 


122  GEESE. 

bottom  lands,  they  seldom  visit  the  high,  dry  prairies  like  the  Snow 
and  Canada  Geese  "  (Goss). 

The  European  White-fronted  Goose  {171.  Anser  albifrons)  resembles 
its  American  representative  in  color,  but  averages  smaller.  It  is  American 
only  as  it  occurs  in  Greenland,  where  gambeli  is  apparently  unknown. 

172.  Branta  canadensis  {Linn.).  Canada  Goose.  u4<i.— Throat 
and  a  large  patch  on  the  side  of  the  head  behind  the  eye  white  or  whitish  ; 
chin  and  rest  of  the  head  and  neck  black ;  back  and  wings  grayish  brown,  more 
or  less  edged  with  lighter;  tail  and  shorter  upper  tail-coverts  black,  longer 
and  lateral  ones  white ;  breast  and  belly  grayish,  fading  to  white  on  the  lower 
belly ;  sides  like  the  back.  Im. — Similar,  but  throat  and  cheeks  sometimes 
mixed  with  blackish.  "  L.,  35-00-43-00 ;  W.,  15-60-21-00 ;  Tar.,  2-45-3-70 ;  B., 
1-55-2-70  "  (Eidgw.). 

Range. — Temperate  North  America;  breeds  in  the  northern  United  States 
and  British  provinces ;  south  in  winter  to  Mexico. 

Washington,  W.  V.  and  rather  common  T.  V.,  Oct,  to  Apl.  Long  Island, 
common  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Apl. ;  Oct.,  some  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  com- 
mon T.  v.,  Mch.  11  to  May  21 ;  Oct.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  and 
Apl. ;  Oct.  to  Deo.. 

ives^,  of  sticks  lined  with  down,  on  the  ground  in  the  open  prairie,  on 
the  shores  of  streams,  on  tree  stumps  and  sometimes  in  trees,  when  a  de- 
serted nest  of  the  Osprey  is  generally  used.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  butfy  white, 
3-50  X  2-35. 

Probably  the  migration  of  no  bird  attracts  more  universal  interest 
than  that  of  the  Wild  Goose.  Ornithologists  talk  of  "  waves "  and 
"  flights  "  of  migrants  passing  in  the  night,  but  the  biannual  pilgrim- 
age of  the  Canada  Goose  appeals  to  us  all  with  the  directness  of  a  per- 
sonal experience.  We  see  the  living  wedge  of  long-necked  birds  pass- 
ing high  overhead;  the  unbroken  sound-waves  bring  the  sonorous 
"  honks  "  with  unexpected  distinctness  to  our  ears ;  and  we  receive  an 
impressive  lesson  in  the  migration  of  birds.  They  are  embarked  on  a 
journey  of  several  thousand  miles,  but  they  come  and  go  as  surely  as 
though  they  carried  chart  and  compass. 

172a.  B.  C.  hutchinsii  {Sw.  &  Rich.).  Hutchins's  Goose. — Eesem- 
bles  the  preceding  in  color,  but  averages  smaller.  L.,  25'00-34-00 ;  W.,  14-75- 
17-75;  Tar.,  2-25-3-20;  B.,  1-20-1-90  (Ridgw.). 

Range.— '•'■  North  America,  breeding  in  the  arctic  regions,  and  migrating 
30ath  in  winter  chiefly  through  the  western  United  States  and  Mississippi 
Valley  ;  eastern  Asia"  (A.  0.  U.). 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

172c.  B.  C.  minima  Ridgw.  Cackling  Goose.— To  be  distinguished 
from  the  two  preceding  by  its  smaller  size  and  the  much  darker  brownish- 
gray  color  of  the  breast  and  upper  belly.  "  W.,  13-60-14-50;  Tar.,  2-40-2-75; 
B., -95-1-15"  (Kidgw.). 


GEESE.  123 

Range. — Pacific  coast  of  North  America,  breeding  chiefly  about  the  shores 
of  Norton  Sound  and  the  lower  Yukon ;  south  in  winter  to  California,  and, 
more  rarely,  to  upper  Mississippi  Valley  (Wisconsin,  etc.)  (Ridgw.). 

173.  Branta  bernicla  {Linn.).  Brant.  Ad. — Head,  neck,  throat, 
and  upper  breast  black  ;  sides  of  the  neck  speckled  with  white ;  back  brown- 
ish gray,  margined  with  grayish  brown ;  longer  and  lateral  upper  tail-coverts 
white;  lower  breast  ashy  gray  fading  to  white  on  the  lower  belly;  sides 
darker.  Im. — Similar,  but  with  less  white  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  and 
wing-coverts,  and  secondaries  tipped  with  white.  L.,  26-00 ;  W.,  18*20 ;  Tar., 
2-20;  B.,  1-35. 

Range, — Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere ;  breeds  within  the 
Arctic  Circle ;  in  America,  migrates  southward  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  reach- 
ing the  Carolinas  in  winter ;  rare  in  the  interior. 

Washington,  rare  W.  V.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  Nov.  1  to  May  15 ; 
»  few  winter.    Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Nest.1  of  grasses,  moss,  etc.,  lined  with  down,  on  the  ground.  Eggs^  four, 
smooth  and  creamy  white  in  color,  2-70  x  1-80  (Saunders). 

"  Its  manner  of  flying  is  different  from  that  of  the  Canada  Goose — 
moving  in  more  compact  bodies,  less  rapidly,  and  without  seeming  to 
have  a  chosen  leader — that  marked  characteristic  in  the  flight  of  the 
latter. 

"  While  in  our  bays  it  appears  inactive,  seldom  taking  to  wing  un- 
less disturbed  by  a  passing  boat  or  the  near  report  of  a  gun. 

"  The  Brent  rises  slowly,  and  when  on  the  wing  moves  sluggishly 
for  a  short  distance,  and,  if  not  attracted  by  a  distant  flock,  frequently 
returns  to  the  place  it  had  left.  Its  food  consists  of  a  marine  plant 
(Zostera  marina),  commonly  called  'eel  grass.'  At  low  water  it  is 
seen  industriously  at  work  tearing  up  its  favorite  plant.  After  the 
tide  has  risen  to  such  a  height  as  to  compel  it  to  relinquish  its  voca- 
tion, it  is  seen  drifting  with  the  current,  feeding  sumptuously  on  the 
fruits  of  its  labor  "  (Giraud). 

1'74*  Branta  nigricans  (Lawr.).  Black  Brant. — Bears  a  general 
resemblance  to  the  preceding  species,  but  may  be  readily  distinguished  by  its 
much  darker  lower  breast  and  upper  belly,  which  are  nearly  as  dark  as  the 
back,  and  by  having  white  markings  on  the  front  as  well  as  on  the  sides  of 
the  neck. 

Range. — "  Arctic  and  western  North  America ;  rare  or  casual  on  the  At- 
lantic coast"  (A.  O.  U.).  "Breeds  in  abundance  on  the  arctic  coast  of  Liver- 
pool Bay  "  (Macfarlane). 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest,  of  grasses,  moss,  etc.,  lined  with  down,  on  the  ground.  Eggs,  five  to 
seven,  dull  ivory-white  or  grayish  white,  2-85  x  1*82  (B.,  B.,  and  E.). 

This  is  the  western  representative  of  the  preceding  species.  It  is 
of  casual  occurrence  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 


124  SWANS. 

The  Barnacle  Goose  {175.  Branta  leucopsis)  is  an  Old- World  spe^^iee 
which  visits  Greenland  regularly  in  the  fall,  and  is  sometimes  found  on  our 
coasts.  It  diifers  from  any  of  the  preceding  in  having  the  forehead,  sides  of 
the  head,  throat,  and  chin  white,  the  lores  being  black. 

Subfamily  CygnincB.     Swans. 

Swans  feed  from  the  surface,  either  by  "  tipping "  or  by  simply 
immersing  the  long  neck  and  head.  Their  food  consists  largely  of 
vegetable  matter,  but  they  eat  also  small  mollusks.  They  migrate  in 
V-shaped  flocks.  When  on  the  wing,  and  also  when  feeding,  they  utter 
at  times  loud,  trumpeting  notes.  When  pursued  they  do  not  at  once 
take  flight,  but  swim  rapidly  away,  and  in  this  manner  easily  distance 
a  strong  rower. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

A.  With  yellow  on  the  lores;  distance  from  the  eye  to  the  nostril  greater  than 
the  distance  from  the  nostril  to  the  tip  of  the  bill  .     180.  Whistling  Swan. 

-S.  No  yellow  on  the  lores;  distance  from  the  eye  to  the  nostril  not  greater 
than  from  the  nostril  to  the  end  of  the  bill   .    .    .    181.  Trumpeter  Swan- 

180.  Olor  colmnbianus  (Ord).  Whistling  Swan.  Ad.— ^hite; 
bill  and  feet  black  ;  a  small  yellow  spot  on  the  lores.  Im. — Head  and  neck 
brownish  and  rest  of  plumage  more  or  less  washed  with  grayish ;  bill  and 
feet  light.  L.,  55-00;  W.,  22-00;  Tar.,  4-00.  Eye  to  N.,  2-40;  N.  to  tip  of 
B.,  2-25. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  on  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and 
migrates  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico ;  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of 
Chesapeake  Bay. 

Washington,  rare  W.  V.,  Oct.    Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  moss,  etc.,  lined  with  down,  on  the  ground  near  water. 
Eggs.,  two  to  five,  soiled  whitish,  4-25  x  2-70. 

This  is  a  rare  bird  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Virginia.  "  When 
feeding,  or  dressing  their  plumage,  this  Swan  is  usually  very  noisy, 
and  at  night  these  clamors  may  be  heard  to  the  distance  of  several 
miles.  Their  notes  are  varied,  some  resembling  the  lower  ones  made 
by  the  common  tin  horn,  others  running  through  the  various  modula- 
tions of  the  notes  of  the  clarionet.  These  differences  are  presumed  to 
be  dependent  upon  age  "  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

181.  Olor  buccinator  {Rich.).  Trumpeter  Swan.  Ad. — White, 
bill  and  feet  black,  no  yellow  on  the  lores.  Im. — Head  and  neck  brownish, 
rest  of  plumage  more  or  less  washed  with  grayish.  L.,  65*00 ;  W.,  23-00 ;  Tar., 
4-25 ;  Eye  to  N.,  2-70 ;  N.  to  tip  of  B.,  2-20. 

Range. — "  Chiefly  the  interior  of  North  America,  from  the  Gulf  coast  to 
the  fur  countries,  breeding  from  Iowa  and  Dakota  nortliward ;  west  to  the 
Pacific,  but  rare  or  casual  on  the  Atlantic"  (A.  0.  U.). 

Nest.,  of  grasses  and  down,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  two  to  six,  soiled  whitish, 
4-40  X  2-80. 


SPOONBILLS.  125 

This  species  rarely  occurs  east  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Its  habits 
are  said  to  resemble  those  of  the  preceding  species,  *'  but  its  cry  is 
very  different,  resembling  the  notes  of  a  French  horn  and  being  very 
sonorous." 

The  Whooping  Swan  {179.  Olor  cygnus)  is  an  Old  World  species  which 
sometimes  is  found  in  Greenland.  It  differs  from  either  of  our  Swans  in 
having  the  ''  basal  portion  of  the  bill  and  entire  lores  yellow  in  the  adult." 


OKDEB.  ODONTOGLOSS-a:.     LAMELLIROSTRAL 
GRALLATORES. 

Family  Phcenicopterid^.    Flaihingoes. 

The  seven  species  included  in  this  family  are  distributed  through- 
out the  tropics.  Five  species  are  American,  of  which  one  reaches  our 
southern  border  in  Florida.  Flamingoes  are  gregarious  at  all  seasons. 
They  are  rarely  found  far  from  the  seacoasts,  and  their  favorite  re- 
sorts are  shallow  bays  or  vast  mud  flats  which  are  flooded  at  high 
water.  In  feeding,  the  bill  is  pressed  downward  into  the  mud,  its  pe- 
culiar shape  making  the  point  then  turn  upward.  The  ridges  along 
its  sides,  as  in  the  bills  of  Ducks,  serve  as  strainers  through  which  are 
forced  the  sand  and  mud  taken  in  with  the  food. 

182.  Phoenicopterus  ruber  (Linn.).  Flamingo.  (See  Fig.  18.) 
Ad. — Beautiful  rosy  vermilion,  scapulars  and  under  parts  somewhat  paler, 
flanks  carmine,  primaries  and  secondaries  black  ;  bill  yellowish  black  at  the 
tip.  Im. — "  Grayish  white,  the  wings  varied  with  grayish  and  dusky " 
(Kidgw.).     L.,  45-00  ;  W.,  16-25 ;  Tar.,  12-50 ;  B.,  5-50. 

Range. — Atlantic  coasts  of  tropical  and  subtropical  America ;  resident  in 
southwestern  Florida  (Monroe  Coimty) ;  casual  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  Texas; 
accidental  in  South  Carolina. 

Nest.,  in  mud  flats,  a  truncate  cone  of  mud  ten  to  twenty  inches  in  height, 
hollowed  on  top.    Eggs.^  two,  soiled  whitish  with  a  chalky  deposit,  3-55  x  2*20. 

The  Flamingo  is  resident  in  the  United  States  only  in  the  vicinity 
of  Cape  Sable,  Fla.,  where  in  1890  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  observed  a  flock 
of  about  a  thousand  birds  (The  Auk,  vii,  1890,  pp.  221-226). 


ORDER  HERODIONES.     HERONS,   STORKS,   IBISES, 

ETC. 

Family  Plataleid^.    Spoonbills. 

The  Spoonbills  inhabit  the  warmer  parts  of  the  world.     Only  one 
of  the  five  or  six  species  is  found  in  America.     They  frequent  the 


126  IBISES. 

shores  both  on  the  seacoast  and  in  the  interior.  They  are  generally 
found  in  flocks  and  they  nest  in  colonies.  Spoonbills  have  the  gen- 
eral habits  of  Herons,  but  feed  by  immersing  the  bill  and  swinging  it 
from  side  to  side  in  their  search  for  food. 

183*   Ajaja   ajaja   {Linn.).      Roseate   Spoonbill;    Pink   Curlew. 

( See  Fig.  21.)  Ad. — Head  and  throat  bare,  neck  and  upper  back  white,  some- 
times tinged  with  pink  ;  sides  of  the  breast  in  front  of  the  wings  and  end  half 
of  tail  ochraceous-bulf ;  rest  of  plumage  pink  ;  lengthened  feathers  at  the  base 
of  the  neck  darker;  lesser  wing-coverts,  upper  and  under  tail-coverts  car- 
mine. /;m.— Similar,  but  head  and  throat  feathered,  ochraceous-buff  and  car- 
mine of  the  adult  replaced  by  pink.     L.,  32-00 ;  W.,  14-50  ;  Tar.,  4-00  ;  B.,  6-25. 

Range. — Tropical  and  subtropical  America  north  to  the  Gulf  States. 

Nest.,  a  platform  of  sticks  in  mangrove  bushes  or  small  trees.  Eggs,  three 
to  five,  white,  spotted  and  speckled  with  shades  of  olive-brown,  2-57  x  1-73. 

This  was  formerly  a  common  species  in  Florida,  but  continued 
persecution  has  so  reduced  its  numbers  that  during  four  winters 
passed  in  different  parts  of  the  State  I  did  not  observe  it.  It  nests  in 
January  and  February  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  State,  and 
after  the  nesting  season  wanders  northward.  On  the  Texas  coast  it  is 
more  numerous. 

Family  Ibidid^.    Ibises. 

Ibises  are  distributed  throughout  the  warmer  parts  of  the  globe ; 
they  number  about  thirty  species,  of  which  four  occur  in  North  Amer- 
ica. They  are  silent  birds,  and  live  in  flocks  during  the  entire  year. 
They  feed  along  the  shores  of  lakes,  bays,  and  salt-water  lagoons,  and 
on  mud  flats  over  which  the  tide  rises  and  falls.  Their  food  consists 
principally  of  crustaceans,  frogs,  and  small  fish. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

^.  Plumage  deep  chestnut 186.  Glossy  Ibis. 

B.  Plumage  scarlet 185.  Scarlet  Ibis  (Ad.). 

C.  Plumage  white 184.  White  Ibis  (Ad.). 

D.  Back  brown,  belly  white.    • 

a.  Kump  white 184.   White  Ibis  (Im.). 

b.  Kump  like  the  back 185.  Scarlet  Ibis  (Im.). 

184.  Guara alba  rZmn.).  White  Ibis;  Spanish  Curlew  (see Fig.  20). 
Ad. —  White,  the  tips  of  the  four  outer  primaries  black  ;  bare  parts  of  the  head 
orange-red.  Im.. — Head  and  neck  white,  streaked  with  grayish  brown ;  upper 
back  and  wings  grayish  brown;  rump,  breast,  and  bellv  white.  L.,  25-00; 
W.,  11-00 ;  Tar.,  3-40 ;  B.  from  N.,  4-60. 

Range. — ^Tropical  America;  breeds  as  far  north  as  southern  Indiana, 
southern  Illinois,  and  South  Carolina;  winters  from  the  Gulf  southward. 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 


STORKS.  127 

Nest,  of  reeds  and  weed  stalks,  in  trees,  bushes,  and  reedy  marshes.  Eggs, 
three  to  live,  pale  greenish  white,  with  chocolate  markings  generally  most 
numerous  at  the  larger  end,  2-25  x  1-50. 

This  locally  abundant  species  is  generally  found  in  flocks  of  five  or 
six  to  as  many  hundred  birds  which  frequent  mud  flats,  marshes,  or 
the  borders  of  lagoons.  They  fly  in  close  rank,  and  when  in  large 
flocks,  with  their  snowy  plumage  glistening  in  the  sunlight  and  their 
wing-strokes  accented  by  the  black-tipped  primaries,  form  a  strikingly 
beautiful  picture. 

The  Scarlet  Ibis  {185.  Guara  rubra),  a  South  American  species,  has  been 
recorded  from  Florida,  Louisiana,  and  New  Mexico.  (See  Brewster,  Bull. 
Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  viii,  1883,  p.  185 ;  also  Scott,  Auk,  vi,  1889,  p.  15.) 

186.  Plegadis  autumnalis  {Ilasselq.).  Glossy  Ibis.  Ad. — Kieh 
chestnut,  upper  and  under  tail-coverts,  back,  wings,  and  front  of  the  head 
with  greenish  and  purplish  reflections ;  lores  (in  skins)  blackish.  /m.^Head 
and  neck  fuscous-brown,  the  feathers  laterally  margined  with  white ;  rest  of 
under  parts  dull  fuscous-brown ;  back  with  greenish  reflections.  L.,  24-00 : 
W.,  11-50  ;  Tar.,  3-10  ;  B.,  5-00. 

Range. — Tropical  and  subtropical  regions  generally  ;  rare  and  of  local  dis- 
tribution in  the  southeastern  United  States  and  West  Indies. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  two  records.  Long  Island,  A.  V.,  two  records.  Cam- 
bridge, A.  v.,  one  record,  May. 

JSfest,  of  rushes,  plant  stems,  etc.,  in  reedy  swamps  or  low  bushes.  Eggs, 
three,  rather  deep,  dull  blue,  2-01  x  1-47. 

This  is  a  rare  species  in  the  eastern  United  States.  Its  haunts  are 
of  much  the  same  nature  as  those  of  the  preceding  species. 

The  White-faced  Glossy  Ibis  {187.  Plegadis  guarauna),  a  locally  com- 
mon species  from  Texas  westward  and  southward,  has  been  recorded  but  once 
from  east  of  the  Mississippi,  viz.,  at  or  near  Lake  Washington,  Florida,  where 
a  female  was  shot  on  a  nest  containing  three  eggs  (Brewster,  Auk,  iii,  1886, 
p.  482).  This  species  resembles  the  Glossy  Ibis,  but  adults  have  the  region 
about  the  base  of  the  bill  white. 

Family  Ciconiid^.    Storks. 

Only  two  of  the  twenty-five  known  species  included  in  this  family 
are  found  in  North  America.  Storks  are  both  gregarious  and  solitary. 
Our  species,  the  so-called  Wood  Ibis,  is  as  a  rule  found  in  flocks  and 
nests  in  colonies.  It  feeds  in  swamps  and  on  the  shores  of  bayous, 
where  it  is  said  to  "  rake  "  the  bottom  with  its  foot  in  searching  for 
food.  It  is  a  strong  flier,  a  certain  number  of  wing-strokes  being  fol- 
lowed by  a  short  sail.  At  times  it  mounts  high  in  the  air  and  sails 
about  like  a  Vulture.  Sometimes  it  perches  upon  trees.  Its  voice  is 
described  as  a  rough,  guttural  croak. 


128  HERONS  AND   BITTERNS. 

188.  Tantalus  loculator  Linn.  Wood  Ibis.  Ad. — Head  and  neck 
bare ;  primaries,  secondaries,  and  tail  glossy  greenish  black,  rest  of  plumage 
white.  Im. — Head  more  or  less  feathered;  head  and  neck  grayish  brown, 
blacker  on  the  nape ;  rest  of  plumage  as  in  the  adult,  but  more  or  less  marked 
with  grayish  ;  wings  and  tail  less  greenish.  L.,  4U-00  ;  W,,  18-00  ;  Tar.,  7-60  ; 
B.  from  N.,  8-00. 

Range. — Tropical  and  subtropical  America ;  breeds  in  the  Gulf  States,  and, 
after  the  breeding  season,  wanders  irregularly  northward,  sometimes  reaching 
Kansas,  Wisconsin,  Indiana,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  York. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  two  specimens.     Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest,  a  platform  of  sticks  in  trees.  J^ggs.,  two  to  three,  dull  white  with  a 
aoft  calcareous  deposit,  2-75  x  1-75. 

This  is  a  locally  common  species  in  Florida. 

Family  Ardeid^.    Herons  and  Bitterns. 

This  family  contains  about  seventy-five  species  distributed  in  most 
parts  of  the  globe,  but  more  numerously  in  the  intertropical  regions. 
Generally  speaking,  Herons  are  gregarious,  nesting  and  roosting  in 
flocks.  While  feeding  they  are  more  solitary,  but  each  night  they 
regularly  return  to  roost  with  their  kind  in  a  "  rookery."  Bitterns  do 
not  associate  in  flocks,  and  are  generally  found  singly  or  in  pairs.  As 
a  rule,  they  feed  in  grassy  marshes,  while  Herons  more  commonly 
resort  to  the  shores  of  lakes,  rivers,  bays,  or  salt-water  lagoons.  Some 
species  secure  their  food  of  frogs,  fish,  small  reptiles,  etc.,  by  standing 
rigidly  motionless  and  waiting  for  it  to  come  within  striking  distance, 
or  by  wading  for  it  with  the  utmost  caution.  Others  run  rapidly  and 
noisily  through  the  water,  trusting  to  their  agility  and  the  rapidity  of 
their  spearlike  thrusts  to  supply  their  wants.  Herons,  unlike  our 
Ibises  and  Cranes,  fly  with  their  folded  neck  drawn  in  between  their 
shoulders.     Their  voice  is  a  hoarse  squawk. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Wing  over  13-00. 

A.  Plumage  pure  white. 

a.  Wing  17"00,  or  over;  feathers  on  the  lower  neck  long,  narrow. 

192.  Great  White  Heron. 
h.  Wing  under  17*00 ;  neck-feathers  not  lengthened  .     196.  Am.  Egret. 

B.  Upper  parts  generally  slaty  or  grayish  blue. 

193.  Ward's  Heron.     194.  Great  Blue  Heron. 
II.  Wing  under  13-00. 
1.  Crown  without  streaks. 
A.  Crown  white  or  whitish. 
a.  Wing  over  11-00. 
a*.  Plumage  entirely  or  mostly  white     .    .    .     198.  Eeddish  Egret. 
a».  Plumage  gray  streaked  with  black ;  throat  and  sides  of  neck 
black 203.  Yellow-crowned  Night  Heron. 


HERONS  AND  BITTERNS.  129 

b.  Wing  under  11-00. 
h^.  Plumage  pure  white ;  legs  and  bill  black ;  feet  yellow. 

197.  Snowy  Heron. 
J'.  Tips  of  primaries  slate-color ;  plumage  white,  sometimes  iriwgu- 
larly  marked  with  slaty  blue  .    .     200.  Liitle  Blue  Hekon  (Im.). 
£.  Crown  umber  or  reddish  brown. 

a.  Head  and  neck  reddish  brown ;  body  slate-color. 

198.  Eeddish  Egret. 

b.  Neck  conspicuously  streaked ;  body  variegated  .    190.  Am.  Bittern. 

C.  Crown  slaty  or  slate- blue  with  sometimes  a  purplish  cast. 

a.  Wing-coverts  more  or  less  margined  with  rufous. 

199.  Louisiana  Heron. 

b.  Wing-coverts  without  rufous 200.  Little  Blue  Heron. 

D.  Crown  greenish  or  bluish  black. 

a.  Wing  over  10-00 ;  entire  under  parts  pure  white. 

202.  Black-crowned  Night  Heron. 

b.  Wing  under  10-00. 

b^.  Wing-coverts  green 201.  Little  Green  Heron. 

ci.  Wing-coverts  rufous-chestnut  and  buff. 

c-s.  Under  parts  buffy,  more  or  less  streaked .    191.  Least  Bittern. 

cs.  Under  parts  rufous-chestnut  .  191.1.  Cory's  Least  Bittern. 
2.  Crown  streaked. 

A.  Wing  under  1000 ;  upper  parts  greenish     201.  Little  Green  Heron. 

B.  Wing  over  10-00 ;  upper  parts  brownish  or  blackish  brown  streaked 
with  white. 

a.  Upper  parts  light  brown ;  outer  edge  of  primaries  reddish. 

202.  Black-crowned  Night  Heron  (Im.). 

b.  Back  dark  brown ;  crown  nearly  black  with  white  streaks ;  prima- 
ries dark  slate-color    .     203.  Yellow-crowned  Night  Heron  (Im.). 

190*  Botauxois  lentiginosus  {Montag.).  American  Bittern; 
Marsh  Hen.  Ad. — A  glossy  black  streak  on  either  side  of  the  upper  neck; 
top  of  the  head  and  back  of  the  neck  bluish  slate,  more  or  less  washed  with 
buffy  ;  back  brown,  bordered .  and  irregularly  mottled  with  buffy,  and  buffy 
Dchraceous,  wing-coverts  similarly  marked,  but  the  ground  color  grayer ;  un- 
der parts  creamy  buff,  the  feathers  all  widely  streaked  with  buffy  brown, 
which  is  finely  speckled  with  buffy  aud  narrowly  margined  by  brownish 
gray.  Im. — Similar,  but  the  buffy  everywhere  deeper  and  more  ochraceous. 
L.,  28-00 ;  W.,  10-50 ;  Tar.,  3-50 ;  B.,  3-00. 

Range. — ^Temperate  North  America ;  breeds  but  rarely  south  of  Virginia ; 
W^inters  from  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  rather  common  W.  V.,  Aug.  to  Apl.  Long  Island,  common 
T.  v.,  Apl.  and  Sept.  to  Nov.  Sing  Sing,  rare  S.  E.,  Apl.  11  to  Oct.  5.  Cam- 
bridge, not  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  15  to  Nov. 

Nest.1  of  grasses,  etc.,  on  the  ground  in  marshes.  Eggs,  three  to  five,  pale 
olive-buff,  1-90  x  1-45. 

The  Bittern  makes   its   home  in  extensive  grassy  meadows  with 
plenty  of  water,  but  in  the  season  of  migration  may  be  found  and 
10 


130  HERONS  AND   BITTERNS. 

heard  "  booming"  in  smaller  and  more  accessible  swampy  places.  Like 
the  other  members  of  its  family,  it  excels  in  standing  still,  and  will  hold 
its  head  erect  and  motionless  amid  the  tall  grass  till  the  watcher  tires 
of  looking  and  pronounces  the  suspicious  object  nothing  but  a  stick 
after  all.  The  Bittern's  fame  rests  upon  its  vocal  performance,  or 
"  boom."  This  is  sometimes  exactly  like  the  working  of  an  old-fash- 
ioned wooden  pump,  and  sometimes — even  with  the  same  bird — like 
the  driving  of  a  stake  in  a  bog.  It  can  be  heard  for  a  long  distance. 
The  performance  is  best  witnessed  in  spring,  while  the  grass  is  still 
low.  That  it  is  not  so  very  difficult  at  that  season  to  steal  a  march 
upon  the  bird  may  perhaps  be  considered  as  established  on  the  testi- 
mony of  a  man  who  has  never  lived  near  a  Bittern  meadow,  and  yet 
has*  watched  the  performance  at  much  length  and  at  near  rangft  on 
several  occasions.  His  first  experience  of  this  kind  is  described  some- 
what fully  in  The  Auk,  vol.  vi,  page  1.  The  strange  notes  are  deliv- 
ered with  equally  strange  contortions,  as  if  the  bird  were  horribly 
nauseated,  and  are  preceded  by  a  succession  of  quick  snapping  or 
gulping  sounds — "hiccoughs,"  one  observer  has  called  them.  No 
water  is  employed  in  the  operation,  in  spite  of  the  circumstantial  as- 
sertions of  several  persons  who  profess  to  have  seen  the  bird  swallow- 
ing and  then  ejecting  it. — Bradford  Torrey. 

191.  Ardetta  exilis  {Gmel.).     Least  Bittern.     Ad.  $. — Top  of  the 

head,  back,  and  tail  shining  black ;  back  of  the  neck  chestnut-rufous ;  most 
of  the  greater  wing-coverts  and  outer  vanes  of  the  secondaries  darker ;  lesser 
wing-coverts  and  part  of  the  greater  ones  buffy  ;  under  parts,  including  under 
tail-coverts.,  washed  with  bufty ;  a  blackisli  patch  at  either  side  of  the  breast. 
Ad.  ?. — Similar,  but  head  browner  and  back  light,  glossy  umber;  under 
parts  darker  and  more  or  less  streaked  with  brownish.  Im.  $. — Similar  to 
ad.  $  ,  but  the  back  washed  and  tipped  with  chestnut ;  under  parts  darkei 
and  lightly  streaked  with  black.  Im.  9  •■ — similar  to  ad.  9  ,  but  the  back  rufous, 
margined  with  buffy  ochraceous.     L.,  13-00 ;  W.,  4-60;  Tar.,  1-60 ;  B.,  1-80. 

Range. — Temperate  and  tropical  America;  breeds  in  North  America  as 
far  north  as  Maine,  Ontario,  and  Manitoba ;  winters  from  southern  Florida 
southward. 

Washington,  not  very  numerous  S.  E.,  May  5  to  Sept.  25.  Long  Island, 
common  S.  R.,  May  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  E.,  to  Aug.  10. 
Cambridge,  rather  common  S.  E.,  May  15  to  Aug. 

Ne.st.,  of  grasses,  plant  stems,  etc.,  in  marshes  among  rushes,  sometimes  in 
a  small  bush.     Eggs.,  three  to  six,  pale  bluish  white,  1*20  x  •92. 

Wet,  grassy  marshes  such  as  Rail  love,  or  reed-grown  ponds  that 
Gallinules  frequent,  are  the  resorts  of  these  retiring,  secretive  little 
birds.  With  outstretched  necks  and  lowered  heads  they  make  their 
way  without  difficulty  through  the  jungle  of  roots  and  stalks.  Some- 
times they  climb  up  a  slender  reed,  and,  hanging  on  like  Marsh  Wrens, 


HERONS  AND   BITTERNS.  131 

survey  their  surroundings.  They  take  wing  almost  from  beneath  one's 
feet,  and,  with  a  low,  frightened  qua,  fly  slowly  for  a  short  distance 
and  then  drop  back  into  the  grass.  During  the  breeding  season  one 
may  hear  what  presumably  is  the  voice  of  only  the  male — a  soft,  slowly 
repeated,  dovelike  coo,  coo,  coo,  coo,  coo.  It  floats  over  the  marsh  like 
the  voice  of  a  spirit  bird. 

191. 1.  Ardetta  neoxena  Cory.  Cory's  Bittern.  Ad.  4  .—"Top  of 
the  head,  back,  and  tail  dark  greenish  black,  showing  a  green  gloss  when  held 
in  the  light.  Sides  of  the  head  and  throat  rufous-chestnut,  the  feathers  on  the 
back  of  the  neck  showing  greenish-black  tips;  breast  and  under  parts  nearly 
uniform  rufous-chestnut,  shading  into  dull  black  on  the  sides ;  wing-coverts 
dark  rufous-chestnut,  all  the  remiges  entirely  slaty  plumbeous ;  under  tail- 
coverts  uniform  dull  black.  W.,  4-30 ;  Tar.,  1-40  ;  B,,  1-80  "  (Cory,  orig.  descr., 
Auk,  iii,  1886,  p.  262). 

This  small  Bittern  was  described  from  a  specimen  taken  in  the 
Everglades  of  Florida.  Five  additional  specimens  have  since  been 
secured  in  the  same  region,  to  which,  until  recently,  the  species  was 
supposed  to  be  confined.  Within  the  past  few  years,  however,  seven 
specimens  have  been  taken  in  the  Toronto  marshes,  where  A.  exilis  is 
common,  and  one  is  recorded  from  Michigan.  It  seems  to  me  not  un- 
likely that,  as  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  suggests,  iieoxena  may  prove  to  be  a 
color  phase  of  A.  exilis.  (Cf.  Scott,  Auk,  viii,  1891,  p.  309 ;  ix,  1892, 
p.  141 ;  and  Chapman,-  ihid.,  xiii,  1896,  p.  11.) 

192.  Ardea  OCCidentalis  Aud.  Great  White  Heron.  Ad. — En- 
tirely white ;  in  breeding  plumage,  with  long,  narrow,  stiffened  feathers  on  the 
back  and  lower  foreneck,  and  two  narrow  plumes  on  the  back  of  the  crown. 
"L.,  45-00-54-00;  W.,  17-00-21-00;  B.,  6-00-7-00;  Tar,  8-00-8-75"  (Ridgw.). 

Range. — Jamaica  and  Cuba  north  to  the  coasts  of  southern  Florida,  casu- 
ally to  Anclote  Eiver  and  Micco. 

Nest,  a  platform  of  sticks  in  colonies  in  mangrove  bushes.  Eggs,  three  to 
four,  pale,  dull  blue,  2-50  x  1-80. 

This  is  a  common  species  on  the  coasts  of  southern  Florida,  par- 
ticularly in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Sable.  Rarely  it  is  found  as  far  north 
as  the  Anclote  River  on  the  west  coast  and  Micco  on  the  east  coast. 
This  bird  is  as  large  as  the  Great  Blue  Heron,  and  must  not  be  con- 
fused with  Ardea  egretta,  to  which  the  name  Great  White  Heron  is 
frequently  applied. 

Ardea  wuerdmanni  Baird  has  been  considered  to  be  a  color  phase 
of  this  species,  but  its  true  standing  is  unknown.  It  is  described  by 
Coues  as  follows : 

"  Head,  with  the  crest,  white,  the  forehead  streaked  with  black  edges  of  the 
feathers;  under  parts  white,  the  sides  streaked  with  black  ;  lower  plumes  of 
neck  white,  mostly  streaked  with  black  edges  of  the  feathers ;  neck  purplish 


X32  HERONS  AND  BITTERNS. 

gray,  darker  than  in  A.  herodias,  with  a  similar  throat  line  of  white,  blact, 
and  rufous.  Under  wing-coverts  streaked  with  white ;  rufous  of  edge  of  wing 
less  extensive  than  in  A.  herodias,  that  of  tibise  paler.  Tibise  and  soles  of  feet 
yellow ;  tarsi  and  top  of  toes  yellowish  green,  /m. — Like  young  A.  herodias; 
top  of  head  dusky,  the  feathers  with  whitish  shaft  lines  and  bases.  Lesser 
wing-coverts  speckled  with  rusty,  the  under  ones  pure  white"  (Coues).  "L., 
48-00-50-00;  W.,  20-00-21-00;  B.,  5-95-6-50;  Tar.,  7-95-8-25''  (Eidgw.). 

193*  Ardea  "wardi  Ridgw.  Ward's  Heron. — This  is  the  Florida  rep- 
tesentative  of  A.  herodias.  It  is  believed  by  some  ornithologists  to  be  a  dis- 
tinct species,  but  in  my  opinion  is  a  peninsular  race.  The  average  differences 
in  color  between  it  and  A.  lierodias  consist  in  its  whiter  lower  parts,  darker 
neck,  and  olive  instead  of  black  legs.  These  differences,  however,  can  not 
always  be  relied  upon,  and  size  is  the  character  by  which  the  two  birds  can 
best  be  distinguished,  wardi  being  the  larger,  as  the  following  measurements 
show:  L.,  52-00;  W.,  19-75-20-50;  B.,  6 •40-6- 80 ;  Tar.,  8-00-8-50.  , 

Range. — Florida,  from  Alachua  County  southward. 

Nest.,  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  generally  in  cypress  trees.  ^gg«y 
three  to  four,  pale,  dull  blue,  2-65  x  1-85. 

This  is  the  Florida  form  of  the  following,  which  it  resembles  in 
habits.  It  is  more  common  than  the  Great  Blue  Heron,  and  is  gener- 
ally distributed  throughout  the  peninsula  from  Gainesville  southward. 

194*  Ardea  herodias  Linn.  Great  Blue  Heron;  Blue  Crane; 
Sandhill  Crane.  Ad.  in  breeding  plumage. — Center  of  the  crown  and  throat 
white,  sides  of  the  crown  black,  this  color  meeting  on  the  back  of  the  head, 
where  the  feathers  are  lengthened  to  form  an  occipital  crest ;  neck  pale  gray- 
ish brown,  a  narrow  black,  white,  and  ochraceous  line  down  the  middle  of 
the  foreneck  ;  feathers  of  the  lower  foreneck  narrow  and  much  lengthened, 
whitish  with  sometimes  black  streaks;  back,  wing-coverts,  and  tail  slaty 
gray,  the  scapulars  paler,  narrow,  and  much  lengthened ;  bend  of  the  wing 
chestnut-rufous ;  a  patch  of  black  and  white  feathers  on  the  side  of  the 
breast ;  breast  and  belly  streaked  with  black  and  white  and  sometimes  pale 
rufous ;  feathers  on  legs  dull  rufous,  legs  and  feet  black,  upper  mandible  olive- 
yellow,  the  culmen  blackish ;  lower  mandible  yellow ;  lores  blue.  Im. — 
Similar,  but  entire  crown  black,  throat  white,  neck  brownish  gray  washed 
with  buff"y  ochraceous  ;  no  black  at  the  sides  of  the  breast  or  plumes  on  the 
lower  neck  ;  under  parts  streaked  with  black,  slaty,  white,  and  ochraceous ; 
bend  of  wings  and  feathers  on  legs  paler ;  back  slaty  grayish  brown  without 
lengthened  plumes.  "L.,  42-00-50-00;  W.,  17-90-19-85;  B.,  4-30-6-25;  Tar., 
6-00-8-00  "  (Ridgw.). 

Range. — Northern  South  America  northward  to  the  arctic  regions ;  breeds 
locally  throughout  most  of  its  North  American  range  and  winters  from  the 
Middle  States  southward. 

"Washington,  rather  common,  absent  only  in  midwinter.  Long  Island, 
common  T.  V.,  Apl.  and  May ;  Aug.  to  Dec.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl. 
4  to  Apl.  18;  Aug.  16  to  Oct.  6.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  and  May  ; 
Sept.  to  Nov. ;  occasional  in  summer. 


HERONS  AND  BITTERNS.  133 

Nest^  a  platform  of  sticks,  generally  in  colonies,  in  trees.  Eggs,  three  to 
four,  pale,  dull  blue,  2-50  x  1-60. 

Is  it  due  to  the  influence  of  the  artists  of  the  Orient  that  these 
long-legged,  long-necked  birds  are  so  frequently  miscalled  "  Cranes  "  f 
With  head  drawn  in  and  legs  trailing  on  behind,  they  flap  slowly  over 
the  water,  resembling,  no  doubt,  the  "  Cranes  "  of  fans,  screens,  and 
bronzes ;  nevertheless,  they  are  Herons.  With  all  a  Heron's  immovable 
alertness  they  watch  patiently  for  passing  fish,  sometimes  wading  with 
extreme  caution,  placing  one  foot  slowly  after  the  other.  They  feed 
both  by  day  and  night.  Pishes,  frogs,  reptiles,  even  small  mice,  all 
are  welcome ;  and  all  are  powerless  to  escape  the  lightning  thrust  of 
the  spearlike  bill.  Their  voice  is  harsh  and  rasping.  When  alarmed 
they  utter  a  croak  which  is  sometimes  prolonged  into  a  series  of  squawks. 
They  nest  and  roost  in  colonies,  but  at  other  times  are  solitary  birds. 

The  European  Great  Blue  Heron  {195.  Ardea  cinerea)  is  accidental  in 
southern  Greenland.  It  may  be  distinguished  from  our  species  by  the  white 
instead  of  rufous  feathers  on  the  legs. 

196.  Ardea  egretta.  Gmel.  American  Egret.  Ad.  in  breeding 
plumage. — Entire  plumage  pure  white ;  about  fifty  straight  "  aigrette  "  plumes 
grow  from  the  interscapular  region  and  reach  beyond  the  tail ;  legs  and  feet 
black  ;  bill  yellow  ;  lores  orange,  bordered  below  by  greenish.  Ad.  after  the 
breeding  season  and  Im. — Without  the  interscapular  plumes.  L.,  41*00 ;  W., 
15-00 ;  Tar.,  5-60  ;  B.,  4-50. 

Range. — Tropical  and  temperate  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  southern 
Illinois  and  Virginia ;  after  the  breeding  season  sometimes  strays  northward 
as  far  as  Manitoba,  Quebec,  and  New  Brunswick. 

Washington,  not  common  and  irregular  S.  K.,  May  to  August.  Long 
Island,  rare  from  July  to  Sept.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Nest.,  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  in  bushes  over  water.  Eggs.,  three 
to  five,  dull  blue,  of  a  rather  deeper  shade  than  those  of  the  preceding, 
2-25  X  1-60. 

Tourists  who  went  to  Florida  thirty  years  ago  have  told  me  of 
prairies  white  with  Egrets,  of  bushy  islands  glistening  in  the  sun  like 
snow  banks.  Now  you  may  look  for  miles  along  a  lake  shore  and  per- 
haps in  the  distance  see  a  solitary  Egret,  which,  as  you  approach,  with 
a  frightened  squawk  takes  wing  a  rifle-shot  away.  The  rapid  exter- 
mination of  these  plume-bearing  birds  is  startling  evidence  of  man's 
power  in  the  animal  world.  At  his  word  a  species  is  almost  imme- 
diately wiped  out  of  existence.  I  have  heard  a  '"  plume-hunter"  boast 
of  killing  three  hundred  Herons  in  a  "rookery"  in  one  afternoon. 
Another  proudly  stated  that  he  and  his  companions  had  killed  one 
hundred  and  thirty  thousand  birds — Herons,  Egrets,  and  Terns — dur- 
ing one  winter.    But  the  destruction  of  these  birds  is  an  unpleasant 


134  HERONS   AND   BITTERNS. 

subject.  It  is  a  blot  on  Florida's  history.  The  subject  will  be  found 
fully  treated  by  W.  E.  D.  Scott  in  The  Auk,  iv,  1887,  p.  135. 

197.  Ardea  candidissima  Gmel.  Snowy  Heron;  Snowy  Eobet 
Ad.  in  breeding  plumage. — Entire  plumage  pure  white ;  about  fifty  recurved 
"aigrette"  plumes  grow  from  the  interscapular  region  and  reach  to  or  just 
beyond  the  end  of  the  tail ;  legs  hlaclc^  feet  yellow.,  bill  hlacTc,  yellow  at  the 
base  ;  lores  orange-yellow.  Ad.  after  the  breeding  season  and  Iiri. — Without 
the  interscapular  plumes.     L.,  24*00;  W.,  9-75;  Tar.,  3-80;  B.,  3-20. 

ii^aw^e.— Tropical  and  temperate  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  southern 
Illinois  and  Long  Island;  after  the  breeding  season  sometimes  strays  north- 
ward as  far  as  Ontario  and  Maine. 

Washington,  casual;  irregular  in  fall.  Long  Island,  rare  S.  E.,  Apl.  to 
Sept.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Nest.,  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  in  bushes  over  water.  Eggs.^  three 
to  five,  pale,  dull  blue,  1"80  x  1.20. 

The  "  curse  of  beauty "  has  numbered  the  days  of  this  the  most 
dainty  and  graceful  of  Herons.  Twenty  years  ago  it  was  abundant  in 
the  South,  now  it  is  the  rarest  of  its  family.  The  delicate  "  aigrettes  " 
which  it  donned  as  a  nuptial  dress  were  its  death  warrant.  Woman 
demanded  from  the  bird  its  wedding  plumes,  and  man  has  supplied 
the  demand.  The  Florida  Herons  have  gone,  and  now  he  is  pursuing 
the  helpless  birds  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  Mercilessly 
they  are  shot  down  at  their  roosts  or  nesting  grounds,  the  coveted 
feathers  are  stripped  from  their  backs,  the  carcasses  are  left  to  rot, 
while  the  young  in  the  nest  above  are  starving.  But  then,  you  know, 
the  little  bunch  of  aigrettes  in  yonder  jaunty  bonnet  is  "  so  pretty," 
"  so  becoming !  " 

198.  Ardea  rufescens  Gmel.    Eeddish  Egret.    Ad..,  darh  phase.— 

Head  and  neck  rufous-chestnut,  glossed  with  vinaceous ;  rest  of  the  plumage 
dark  bluish  slate-color ;  about  thirty  "  aigrette  "  plumes  grow  from  the  inter- 
scapular region  and  reach  beyond  the  tail ;  legs  and  feet  black.  Im. — Simi- 
lar, but  without  the  "  aigrette  "  plumes.  White  phase. — Similar  in  size  and 
form,  but  entire  plumage  white,  except  the  tips  of  the  primaries,  which  are 
sometimes  very  finely  speckled  with  grayish.  Im. — Similar,  but  without  the 
"  aigrette  "  plumes.    L.,  29-00 ;  W.,  12-50 ;  Tar.,  5-40 ;  B.,  3-60. 

Remarlcs. — The  two  color  phases  of  this  bird  were  supposed  to  represent 
two  species,  the  white  phase  being  called  Ardea  pealei  Bonap.  They  have, 
however,  been  found  mated  together,  and  intermediates  or  party-colored 
specimens  are  known. 

Range. — West  Indies  and  Central  America  north  to  coasts  of  the  Gulf 
States ;  casually  southern  Illinois. 

Nest.,  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  in  bushes  generally  over  water. 
Eggs.,  two  to  four,  pale,  dull  blue,  1*95  x  1*45. 

This  is,  or  was  a  few  years  ago,  a  not  uncommon  species  on  the 
coasts  of  southern  Florida,  but  it  is  unknown  in  the  interior.    It  is 


■X 


&\ 


w 


H^ 


HERONS  AND   BITTERNS.  I35 

generally  seen  in  flocks.     With  A.  candidissima  they  lack  the  patience 
of  the  larger  Herons  and  pursue  their  prey  in  shallow  water. 

199.  Ardea  tricolor  ruficollis  (Gosse).  Louisiana  Hekon.  Ad. 
— Upper  parts  dark  bluish  slate-color ;  back  of  the  head  and  upper  neck  with 
elongated  chestnut-rufous  and  white  feathers ;  back  with  pale  brownish  gray 
"  aigrette  "  plumes  reaching  to  the  tail ;  lower  back,  rump,  and  belly  white ; 
neck  bluish  slate-color ;  throat  white,  an  indistinct  rufous  line  down  the  mid- 
dle of  the  foreneck  ;  legs  blackish  ;  base  of  the  hill  and  lores  bluish.  Im. — 
Throat,  and  an  indistinct  line  down  the  foreneck,  white ;  rest  of  the  head  and 
neck  brownish  rufous ;  upper  back  and  wings  bluish  slate-color,  more  or  less 
washed  with  brownish  rufous ;  no  plumes ;  lower  back,  rump,  and  belly  white ; 
breast  with  more  or  less  slaty  streaks ;  legs  yellow  behind,  blackish  before ; 
lower  mandible  and  lores  orange ;  upper  mandible  black.  L.,  26-00 ;  W.,  10-00 ; 
Tar.,  3-70  ;  B.,  3-90. 

Eange. — Central  America  and  West  Indies  northward  to  the  Gulf  States ; 
casually  to  Long  Island. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest^  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  in  bushes  over  water  Eggs^  four 
to  five,  pale,  dull  blue,  1-75  x  1*35. 

A  common  species  in  Florida,  where  it  is  found  both  singly  and  in 
flocks.  It  is  sometimes  a  slow,  stealthy  feeder,  and  at  others  dashes 
for  its  prey. 

200*  Ardea  ccerulea  Linn.  Little  Blue  Heeon.  Ad. — Head  and 
neck  maroon-chestnut;  rest  of  the  plumage  dark  bluish  slate-color;  inter- 
scapulars and  lower  neck  feathers  lengthened  and  narrowly  pointed;  lores 
blue ;  legs  and  feet  black.  Im. — White,  the  plumage  sometimes  more  or  less 
washed  with  slaty  ;  the  tips  of  the  primaries  always  bluish  slate- color  ;  legs, 
feet,  and  lores  greenish  yellow.     L.,  22-00  ;  W.,  10-25  ;  Tar.,  3-70  ;  B.,  3-00. 

RemarJcs. — Between  the  young  and  adult  there  is  every  stage  of  inter- 
gradation  of  color,  some  specimens  being  irregularly  marked  with  blue  and 
white  in  about  equal  proportions.  Young  birds  are  sometimes  mistaken  for 
Snowy  Herons,  but  can  always  be  distinguished  by  the  greenish  yellow  legs 
and  slaty  tips  of  the  primaries. 

Range. — Tropical  and  temperate  America,  breeding  as  far  north  as  south- 
ern Illinois  and  Virginia ;  after  the  breeding  season  wanders  northward,  some- 
times reaching  Nova  Scotia. 

Washington,  casual  in  July  and  August ;  sometimes  quite  common.  Long 
Island,  rare  from  Apl.  to  Sept. 

Nest.,  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  in  bushes  over  water.  S^ggs,  three 
to  four,  pale,  dull  blue,  1-70  x  1-30. 

Thanks  to  their  lack  of  "  aigrette  "  plumes  Little  Blue  Herons  are 
probably  the  most  common  Herons  in  Florida  to-day.  They  are  gen- 
erally found  in  flocks,  sometimes  composed  entirely  of  blue  adults, 
sometimes  of  white,  immature  birds,  and  at  others  both  young  and  old 
are  associated.     The  white  birds  resemble  A.  candidissima,  but  the 


136  HERONS   AND  BITTERNS. 

color  of  their  legs  and  feet  serves  as  a  distinguishing  character  at  some 
distance.  They  are  silent  when  feeding,  but  when  undisturbed  in  their 
rookeries  each  bird  seems  to  have  something  to  say,  and  the  result  is  a 
strange  chorus  of  croaking  voices.  They  feed  by  day,  and  generally 
wait  for  their  prey  to  come  within  striking  distance. 

201*  Ardea  virescens  Linn.  Little  Green  Heron;  Poke  (see 
Fig.  19).  Ad. — Crown  and  a  short  line  below  the  eye  glossy  greenish  black ; 
throat  huffy  white,  this  color  extending  down  the  foreneck  as  a  narrow  line 
mixed  with  blackish,  widening  on  the  breast;  rest  of  the  head  and  neck 
rufous-chestnut  glossed  with  vinaceous ;  back,  witli  lengthened  interscapulars, 
green,  more  or  less  washed  with  bluish  gray ;  wing-coverts  green,  margined 
with  white  or  buffy ;  belly  ashy  gray,  more  or  less  washed  with  buffy.  Im. — 
Similar,  but  with  the  neck  and  under  parts  streaked  with  blackish ;  back 
without  lengthened  feathers  or  wash  of  blue-gray  ;  wing -coverts  widely  mar- 
gined with  buffy  ochraceous.    L.,  17'00  ;  W.,  7*25  ;  Tar.,  1-90;  B.,  2-50. 

Range. — Tropical  and  temperate  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Mani- 
toba, Ontario,  and  the  Bay  of  Fundy ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  very  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  15  to  Sept.  Long  Island,  common 
S.  K.,  Apl.  to  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  6  to  Sept.  26.  Cambridge, 
common  S.  K.,  May  5  to  Sept. 

Nest.^  a  platform  of  sticks  in  a  bush  or  low  branch  of  a  tree.  Eggs^  three 
to  six,  pale,  dull  blue,  1-50  x  1-14:. 

The  shores  of  wooded  streams  or  ponds  are  frequented  by  this  small 
Heron  in  preference  to  more  exposed  situations.  It  is  most  active  in 
the  early  morning  or  at  nightfall,  and  during  the  day  rests  quietly  in 
some  sheltered  situation.  When  startled,  it  springs  into  the  air  with  a 
frightened  squawk,  and,  alighting  at  a  safe  distance  on  a  tree  or  on 
some  elevated  perch,  with  upstretched  neck  watches  the  intruder,  be- 
traying its  apprehension  by  nervous  twitchings  of  the  tail.  It  is  a 
solitary  bird,  and,  unlike  most  Herons,  is  never  found  in  flocks. 

202.  Nycticorax  nycticorax  nsevius  (Bodd.).  Black-crowned 
Night  Heron  ;  Quawk.  Ad. — Forehead,  lores,  neck,  and  under  parts  white 
or  whitish  ;  crown,  upper  back,  and  scapulars  glossy,  greenish  black ;  lower 
back,  wings,  and  tail  ashy  gray ;  legs  and  feet  yellow  ;  lores  greenish  ;  two  or 
three  white  rounded  occipital  plumes  about  8-00  in  length.  Im. — Upper  parts 
grayish  brown,  the  feathers  streaked  or  with  wedge-shaped  spots  of  white  or 
buffy  ;  outer  web  of  primaries  pale  rufous ;  under  parts  white,  streaked  with 
blackish.    L.,  24-00  ;  W.,  12-00 ;  Tar.,  3-20 ;  B.,  3-00. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Manitoba  and  New  Brunswick  southward  through 
South  America;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  southward. 

Washington,  not  uncommon  S,  R.,  occasional  in  winter.  Long  Island, 
common  S.  R.,  Apl.  to  Oct.,  a  few  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  6 
to  Oct.  20.     Cambridge,  P.  R.,  most  common  in  Aug.  and  Sept. 

Nest^  of  sticks,  in  colonies,  generally  in  the  upper  parts  of  tall  trees,  some- 
times in  bushes  or  on  the  ground.    Eggs.^  four  to  six,  pale,  dull  blue,  2*00  x  1-40. 


CRANES.  137 

These  birds  live  in  colonies  composed  sometimes  of  thousands  of 
pairs.  Their  day  begins  after  sunset,  when  they  leave  their  roosts  and 
start  for  their  feeding  grounds.  Occasionally  they  utter  a  loud,  hoarse 
quawk,  the  origin  of  their  common  name;  and  looking  up  we  may 
catch  a  glimpse  of  them  hurrying  through  the  gloom.  During  the 
nesting  season  the  demands  of  the  young  force  them  to  feed  both  by 
day  and  night. 

203*  Nycticorax  violaceus  (Linn.).  Yellow-crowned  Night 
Heron,  Ad.  —Crown  white,  generally  washed  with  bufly  ;  ear-coverts  white ; 
rest  of  the  head  and  throat  black  ;  neck,  breast,  and  belly  blue-gray ;  back 
the  same ;  the  lengthened  interscapulars,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts  streaked 
with  black ;  two  or  three  black  and  white  rounded  occipital  plumes ;  lores 
greenish  yellow  ;  legs  greenish.  Im. — Crown  black,  the  feathers  streaked  with 
white  or  buffy  ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts,  including  wing-coverts,  fuscous-brown 
with  wedge-shaped  bufty  or  white  spots ;  primaries  dark  bluish  slate-color 
without  rufous  ;  under  parts  white  or  buffy  streaked  Vrith  blackish.  L.,  23-00 ; 
W.,  12-00;  Tar.,  3-75;  B.,  3-00. 

KemarTcs. — Young  birds  bear  a  general  resemblance  to  those  of  the  pre- 
ceding species,  but  differ  in  being  darker,  in  having  the  head  darker  than  the 
back,  and  the  primarias  without  rufous. 

Range. — Breeds  from  southern  Illinois  and  South  Carolina  southward  to 
South  America,  and  occasionally  strays  north  as  far  as  Massachusetts. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.     Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  record,  July. 

Nest,  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  pairs,  generally  in  a  low  branch  overhanging 
water.    £ggs,  four  to  five,  pale,  dull  blue,  1*95  x  1-45. 

Unlike  the  preceding,  this  is  a  rather  solitary  species,  and  is  found 
singly  or  in  pairs  along  the  borders  of  wooded  streams,  and  never  in 
colonies.     It  is  also,  I  think,  more  diurnal  in  habits. 


OB.DEB  PALUDICOLiE.     CRANES,   RAILS,   ETC. 

Family  Gruid^.    Cranes. 

The  Cranes  number  about  eighteen  species,  of  which  three  are  North 
American,  while  the  remaining  fifteen  inhabit  the  Old  World.  They 
frequent  plains  and  marshes,  and  are  omnivorous  feeders,  eating  frogs, 
lizards,  field-mice,  snakes,  etc.,  and  various  kinds  of  vegetable  food. 
Our  species  migrate  in  flocks,  but  are  solitary  rather  than  gregarious 
at  other  times  of  the  year.     Their  voice  is  loud  and  resonant. 

204*  Grus  a<merica<na>  {Linn.).  Whooping  Crane;  White  Crane. 
Ad.—To^  of  the  head,  lores,  and  sides  of  the  throat  dull  red,  with  a  thin 
growth  of  black  "hairs  " ;  primaries  black,  rest  of  the  plumage  white.  Im. — 
Similar,  but  whole  head  feathered,  and  the  plumage  more  or  less  washed  with 
buff'y  ochraceous.    L.,  50-00 ;  W.,  25-00  ;  Tar.,  11-50  ;  B.,  5-00. 


X3S  COURLANS. 

^a^t^e.— Interior  of  North  America ;  breeds  from  Illinois  northward  ;  win- 
ters in  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest,  of  grasses  and  weed  stalks,  on  the  ground  in  marshy  places.  Eggs, 
two,  olive-gray,  spotted  and  blotched  with  distinct  and  obscure  cinnamon- 
brown  markings,  4-00  x  2-50. 

A  rather  rare  species  east  of  the  Mississippi.  "  In  flight  their  long 
necks  and  stiltlike  legs  are  stretched  out  in  a  line  with  the  body  to 
the  full  extent,  moving  strongly  with  slowly  beating  wings,  but  not 
swiftly,  .  .  .  often  circling  spiral-like  to  a  great  height.  They  occa- 
sionally bunch  up,  and  I  have  seen  them  in  triangular  form ;  but  as  a 
rule  they  travel  in  single  file,  following  their  leader  in  a  wavy  line, 
croaking  as  they  go,  like  hounds  upon  a  cold  trail "  (Goss). 

The  Little  Brown  Crane  {205.  Grus  canadensis)  breeds  from  Hudson 
Bay  to  Alaska,  and  winters  in  Texas  and  Mexico.  There  are  but  two  in- 
stances of  its  occurrence  east  of  the  Mississippi  (Rhode  Island  and  South 
Carolina).     It  resembles  7nexicana,  but  is  smaller;  W.  18-50  ;  B.,  4-10. 

206.  Grus  mexica^na;  (Mull.).  Sandhill  Crane  ;  Brown  Crane. 
Ad. — Whole  top  of  the  head  to  below  the  eyes  covered  with  rough,  minutely 
warty,  dull  reddish  skin  thinly  grown  with  short,  black  "hairs";  plumage 
brownish  gray,  with  more  or  less  silvery  gray  and  huffy  ochraceous.  Im. — 
Similar,  but  whole  head  feathered,  and  with  more  huffy  ochraceous  in  the 
plumage.    "  L.,  40-00-48-00  ;  W.,  21-83  ;  Tar.,  10  25  ;  B.,  5-47  "  (Ridgw.). 

Range, — Florida,  Georgia,  and  northward  through  the  Mississippi  Valley 
to  Manitoba ;  breeds  locally  throughout  its  range  ;  winters  in  the  Gulf  States 
from  Florida  to  Texas. 

Nest.^  of  roots,  rushes,  weed  stalks,  etc.,  on  the  ground  in  marshy  places. 
Eggs,  two,  olive-gray,  spotted  and  blotched  with  distinct  and  obscure  cinna- 
mon-brown markings,  3*90  x  2-40. 

"  These  birds  in  their  habits  are  similar  to  the  Whooping  [Crane], 
but  much  more  numerous.  Their  loud,  modulating,  sonorous  croak 
announces  their  presence,  and  is  often  heard  during  the  night  as  well 
as  the  day. 

"  During  courtship  and  the  early  breeding  season  their  actions  and 
antics  at  times  are  ludicrous  in  the  extreme,  bowing  and  leaping  high 
in  the  air,  hopping,  skipping,  and  circling  about  with  drooping  wings 
and  croaking  whoop,  an  almost  indescribable  dance  and  din,  in  which 
the  females  (an  exception  to  the  rule)  join,  all  working  themselves  up 
into  a  fever  of  excitement  only  equaled  by  an  Indian  war  dance,  and, 
like  the  same,  it  only  stops  when  the  last  one  is  exhausted  "  (Goss). 

Family  Aramid^.    Courlans. 

Courlans  might  be  called  large  Rails  with  some  of  the  habits  of 
Herons.    Two  species  are  known,  Aramus  scolopaceus  of  South  America, 


RAILS,   GALLINULES,   AND   COOTS.  139 

and  A.  giganteus  of  Central  America,  Mexico,  the  West  Indies,  and 
Florida.  They  frequent  the  borders  of  wooded  streams  and  swamps, 
and  at  times  the  uplands.  Their  flight  is  short,  and  when  on  the  wing 
their  legs  dangle  below  them.  Like  the  Herons,  they  perch  in  trees. 
Their  prolonged,  melancholy  call  has  won  for  them  the  name  "  Crying- 
bird."  Their  usual  note  is  a  loud,  rather  high  ivah-ree-ow ;  the  last 
syllable  is  drawn  out  into  a  wail,  and  the  effect  is  most  grewsome. 
Courlans  feed  to  a  large  extent  on  land  shells  (Ampidlaria),  and,  as 
Prof.  W.  B.  Barrows  has  shown,  the  tip  of  the  Courlan's  bill  is  some- 
times turned  slightly  to  one  side,  an  evident  result  of  forcing  it  into 
the  spiral  opening  of  the  shell  to  extract  the  animal. 

207.  Aramus  giganteus  {Bonap.).  Limpkin  ;  Crying-bikd  ;  Couk- 
LAN.  (See  Fig.  24.)  Ad. — Glossy  olive-brown,  the  feathers  of  the  head  and 
neck  narrowly,  those  of  the  body  broadly,  striped  with  white ;  wings  and  tail 
more  bronzy.  Im. — Similar,  but  paler  and  duller.  L.,  28-00 ;  W.,  13-00 ;  Tar., 
4-50 ;  B.,  4-25. 

Range. — Central  America  and  West  Indies  north  to  Eio  Grande  Valley 
and  Florida. 

Ned.^  of  leaves,  twigs,  etc.,  in  a  bush  or  small  tree.  Eggs.,  four  to  seven, 
pale  bufiy  white,  blotched,  stained,  and  speckled  with  light  cinnamon-brown, 
2-30  X  1-70. 

This  is  a  locally  distributed  species  in  Florida.  Its  general  habits 
are  described  in  the  remarks  on  the  family  Aramidce. 

Family  Rallid^.    Rails,  Gallinules,  and  Coots. 

The  one  hundred  and  eighty  species  contained  in  this  family  are 
distributed  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  world,  fifteen  species 
inhabiting  North  America.  Rails  and  Gallinules  are  not  strictly  gre- 
garious, but  are  generally  associated  through  a  community  of  inter- 
ests ;  Coots,  however,  are  usually  found  in  flocks.  Rails  inhabit  grassy 
marshes,  in  which  they  seek  safety  by  running  or  hiding,  taking  to 
wing  when  pursued  only  as  a  last  resort.  Their  flight  is  then  short 
and  labored,  and  with  dangling  legs  they  soon  drop  back  into  cover. 
Nevertheless,  they  perform  extended  migrations,  traveling  hundreds  of 
miles  without  resting.  Gallinules  live  near  the  marshy  borders  of  bodies 
of  water,  while  the  more  aquatic  Coots  resemble  some  Ducks  in  habits, 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

L  Bill  over  1-75. 
A.  Cheeks  below  the  eye  cinnamon-rufous,  like  the  breast ;  flanks  black 
barred  with  white ;  upper  parts  rich  olive-brown  streaked  with  black. 

208.  King  Rail. 
£.  Cheek  below  the  eye  gray ;  flanks  generally  gray  or  broM^nish,  barred 
with  white ;  upper  parts  generally  grayish,  streaked  with  black. 

211.  Clapper  Eail  and  races. 


140  RAILS,  GALLINULES,   AND  COOTS. 

II.  Bill  under  1-75. 
A.  Wing  over  6*00. 

a.  General  color  blue,  feet  yellow 218.  Purple  Gallinule. 

b.  General  color  slaty,  feet  dark  greenish. 

b^.  Toes  with  large  scalloped  webs  or  flaps  at  the  side.     221.  Am.  Coot. 
b^.  Toes  without  flaps  or  webs    .    .    .    ,    .     219.  Florida  Gallinule. 
R  Wing  under  6-00. 

a.  Wing  under  3-50. 

a^.  Back  blackish,  with  small  round,  white  spots     .     216.  Black  Eail. 
a".  Back  blackish,  barred  with  white  and  margined  with  buffy. 

215.  Yellow  Kail. 

b.  Wing  over  3*50. 

bK  Bill  over  1-00 212.  Virginia  Rail. 

€\  Bill  under  1*00. 

c".  Wing  over  4-50,  lesser  wing-coverts  rufous      .    217.  Corn  Crake. 

c\  Wing  under  4*50,  lesser  wing-coverts  olive     ....    214.  Sora. 

208.  "RaJlvLS  elegans  Aud.  King  Rail;  Marsh  Hen.  ^6?.— Upper 
parts  varying  from  olive-brown  to  black,  the  back  and  scapulars  widely  mar- 
gined with  olive-gray;  wings  and  tail  olive-brown;  wing-coverts  rufous; 
throat  white ;  neck  and  breast  cinnamoti-rufous ;  belly  and  sides  fuscous, 
sharply  barred  with  white.  Downy  Young — Glossy  black.  L.,  15-00 ;  W., 
6-50  ;  Tar.,  2-20  ;  B.,  2-40. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Missouri  and 
southern  Connecticut,  and  occasionally  strays  as  far  as  Wisconsin,  Ontario, 
and  Maine ;  winters  from  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  uncommon  S.  R.,  almost  a  P.  R.    Long  Island,  rare  S.  R. 

JVest,  of  grasses,  on  the  ground  in  fresh-water  marshes.  Eggs,  seven  to 
twelve,  bufiy  white,  more  heavily  spotted  and  speckled  with  rufous-brown 
than  those  of  the  next  species,  1-68  x  1-20. 

The  King  Rail  is  the  fresh-water  representative  of  the  Clapper  Rail. 
It  is,  however,  a  miich  less  common  bird,  and  less  is  known  of  its 
habits.  Like  other  Rails,  it  is  a  skulker,  and  never  flies  when  it  can 
escape  by  running  or  hiding  in  the  dense  grass  of  its  home.  On  three 
occasions  I  have  heard  what  I  am  quite  sure  was  the  King  Rail's  call, 
a  loud,  startling  hup,  hup,  hup,  hup,  hup,  uttered  with  increasing  ra- 
pidity until  the  syllables  were  barely  distinguishable,  then  ending  some- 
what as  it  began.    The  whole  performa^nce  occupied  about  five  seconds. 

211.  Rallus  longirostris  crepitans  {Gmel.).  Clapper  Rail; 
Marsh  Hen.  (See  Fig.  22,  a.)  Ad. — Upper  parts  very  pale  greenish  olive, 
the  feathers  widely  margined  with  gray  ;  wings  and  tail  grayish  brown ; 
wing-coverts  pale  cinnamon,  much  washed  with  gray;  throat  white;  neck 
and  breast  pale,  between  ocliraceous  and  cream-buff,  more  or  less  washed 
with  grayish  ;  belly  and  sides  gray  or  brownish  gray,  barred  with  white. 
Downy  Young— Q\oQ^j  black.    L.,  14-50 ;  W.,  5-00  ;  Tar.,  2-00  ;  B.,  2-50. 

Bemarhs. — The  Clapper  Rail  may  always  be  known  from  the  King  Rail 


RAILS,   GALLINULES,   AND   COOTS.  141 

by  its  generally  grayish  instead  of  brownish  or  blackish  upper  parts,  by  its 
much  paler  breast  and  flanks  and  paler  wing-coverts. 

Range. — Breeds  in  salt-water  marshes  of  eastern  North  America  from 
Connecticut  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  winters  in  small  numbers  from  near  the 
northern  limit  of  its  range  southward. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  one  record.  Long  Island,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  to  Oct., 
a  few  winter.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  on  the  ground,  in  grass-grown,  salt-water  marshes.  Eggs.^ 
eight  totwel\fe,  butty  white,  spotted  and  speckled  with  rufous-brown,  1'72  x  1-20. 

The  Clapper  Rail  is  an  inhabitant  of  grassy,  salt-water  marshes,  and, 
in  the  southern  parts  of  its  range,  of  mangrove  swamps.  It  is  almost 
impossible  to  flush  these  birds  unless  their  haunts  are  invaded  by  an 
unusually  high  tide,  when  a  boat  may  be  pushed  through  the  meadows 
and  the  birds  forced  to  take  wing.  I  have  heard  birds  calling  in  the 
tall  grass  within  a  few  feet  of  me,  and  have  made  a  wild  rush  in  their 
direction,  only  to  be  mocked  a  moment  later  by  apparently  the  same 
bird  calling  from  a  point  almost  within  reach.  They  dodge  about  over 
well-traveled  pathways  like  children  in  a  game  of  blindman's  buff. 

While  not  strictly  gregarious,  they  live  in  colonies,  and  the  long, 
rolling  call  of  one  bird  is  sometimes  taken  up  and  repeated  by  others 
until  there  is  a  general  outcry  through  the  marsh. 

Sllai*  B*  1*  sa<tura>tus  Hensh.  Louisiana  Clapper  Eail. — A  local 
race  of  the  Clapper  Rail  found  in  the  marshes  of  Louisiana.  Its  characters 
appear  not  to  be  well  understood.  It  is  much  darker  than  crepitans.,  but  not 
so  dark  as  scottii.    "  W.,  5-65 ;  Tar.,  1-97  ;  B.,  2-27  "  (Ridgw.). 

Range. — Coast  of  Louisiana. 

211b«  R.  L  scottii  {Senn.).  Florida  Clapper  Rail. — Differs  from 
crepitans  in  being  black,  fuscous,  or  olive-brown  above,  with  olive-gray  mar- 
gins to  the  feathers ;  in  having  the  neck  and  breast  cinnamon-rufous  washed 
with  brownish,  and  in  having  the  belly  and  flanks  black  instead  of  gray.  In 
fact,  the  general  color  of  scottii  suggests  a  King  Rail,  but  the  latter  may  always 
be  known  by  its  rufous  wing-coverts  and  clear  cinnamon-rufous  neck  and 
breast.     W.,  5-50 ;  Tar.,  1-90  ;  B.,  2-40. 

Range. — Gulf  coast  of  Florida. 

212.  RallusvirginianusZmri..  Virginia  Rail,  ^c?.— Upper  parts 
fuscous  or  black,  the  feathers  bordered  by  pale  grayish  brown ;  wings  and 
tail  dark  grayish  brown ;  wing-coverts  rufous,  lores  whitish,  cheeks  gray, 
throat  white,  rest  of  the  under  parts  cinnamon-rufous ;  flanks  and  under  tail- 
coverts  barred  or  spotted  with  black  and  white.  Downy  Young. — Glossy 
black.    L.,  9-50  ;  W.,  4-30  ;  Tar.,  1-30 ;  R,  1-50. 

Range. — Breeds  from  northern  Illinois,  Pennsylvania,  and  Long  Island  to 
Manitoba  and  Labrador ;  winters  from  near  the  southern  limit  of  its  breeding 
range  southward. 

Washington,  probably  P.  R.    Long  Island,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  to  Oct. ;  a 


142  RAILS,   GALLINULES,   AND   COOTS. 

few  winter.     Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  R.  to  Sept.  29.     Cambridge, 
common  S.  R.,  Apl.  20  to  Oct.  15. 

JVest^  of  grasses,  on  the  ground  in  marshes.  Eggs^  six  to  twelve,  pale  buffy 
white,  spotted  and  speckled  with  rufous-brown,  1-26  x  '96. 

In  almost  any  extensive  fresh  or  brackish  marsh,  especially  if  it 
has  beds  of  cat-tail  flags  or  scattered  thickets  of  low  bushes  and  briers, 
one  may  hear  in  May  and  June,  particularly  in  the  early  morning,  late 
afternoon,  or  during  cloudy  weather,  a  succession  of  grunting  sounds 
not  unlike  those  of  a  hungry  pig.  Although  by  no  means  loud,  they 
have  a  penetrating  quality  which  makes  them  carry  to  a  considerable 
distance ;  and  they  are  apt  to  attract  attention  even  when,  as  is  usually 
the  case,  they  mingle  with  the  songs  of  innumerable  Hed-winged 
Blackbirds,  Marsh  Wrens,  and  other  swamp-loving  birds.  It  is  no 
easy  matter  to  trace  them  to  their  author,  but  if  you  are  persevering 
and  at  the  same  time  fortunate,  you  may  at  length  discover  him  skulk- 
ing under  a  bush  or  behind  a  tuft  of  grass.  He  is  the  Virginia  Rail, 
an  odd-looking  bird  about  the  size  of  a  Snipe.  If  you  remain  motion- 
less, he  may  presently  come  out  into  fairer  view  and  walk  slowly  around 
the  edge  of  some  pool,  lifting  and  putting  down  his  large  feet  with 
curious  deliberation,  cocking  up  his  absurdly  short  tail  at  each  step, 
and  every  now  and  then  stopping  to  thrust  his  bill  deep  into  the  ooze 
in  search  of  food.  As  he  pauses  to  look  at  you,  you  are  struck  by  his 
half-quizzical,  half-sinister  expression,  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  fact  that 
his  eyes  are  blood-red  and  deeply  sunk  in  their  long,  narrow  head. 
Startle  him  by  some  sudden  movement,  and  he  will  do  one  of  three 
things — dart  back  into  cover  as  swiftly  as  a  frightened  mouse,  skip 
across  the  pool  over  the  floating  leaves  of  the  water  plants,  using  both 
wings  and  feet,  or  rise  with  feebly  fluttering  wings  and  hanging  legs 
to  fly  only  a  few  rods  before  dropping  beyond  some  intervening  screen 
of  grass  or  bushes.  In  any  case  you  are  not  likely  to  find  him  again 
on  this  occasion. 

Besides  the  grunting  sound,  the  Virginia  Rail  utters  during  the 
breeding  season,  especially  at  night  and  in  lowering  weather,  a  gut- 
tural cut,  cutta-cufta-cutta,  often  repeated  at  brief  intervals  for  hours 
in  succession.  This  cry  appears  to  be  peculiar  to  the  male,  and  is,  no 
doubt,  his  love  song.  When  heard  at  a  distance  of  only  a  few  yards  it 
has  a  vibrating,  almost  unearthly  quality,  and  seems  to  issue  from  the 
ground  directly  beneath  one's  feet.  The  female,  when  anxious  about 
her  eggs  or  young,  calls  ki-M-ki  in  low  tones,  and  km  much  like  a 
Flicker.  The  young  of  both  sexes  in  autumn  give,  when  startled,  a 
short,  explosive  kep  or  kik,  closely  similar  to  that  of  the  Carolina  Rail. 

William  Brewster. 


RAILS,   GALLINULES,   AND   COOTS.  143 

214.  Porzana  Carolina  (Z«Vm.).  Sora  ;  Carolina  Eail.  (See  Fig. 
22,  c.)  Ad. — Kegion  about  the  base  of  the  bill,  center  of  crown,  and  a  line 
down  the  middle  of  the  neck  black  ;  rest  of  the  breast  and  throat,  sides  of 
the  head,  and  front  part  of  the  crown  pale  blue-gray  ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts 
olive-brown,  most  of  the  feathers  with  black  centers,  the  scapulars  and  back 
streaked  on  either  side  with  white  ;  wings  fuscous- brown,  their  coverts  gray- 
ish cinnamon,  outer  edge  of  first  primary  white ;  lower  belly  white,  flanks 
barred  with  black  and  white.  Jm. — Similar,  but  without  black  at  the  base 
of  the  bill  or  on  the  throat ;  breast  washed  with  cinnamon  and  upper  parts 
darker.     L.,  8-50  ;  W.,  4-30  ;  Tar.,  1-30 ;  B.,  -80. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Kansas,  Illinois,  and  Long  Island  northward  to 
Hudson  Bay ;  winters  from  South  Carolina  to  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Mch. ;  July  to  Nov.  Long  Island,  com- 
mon T.  v.,  Apl.  and  May;  Aug.  to  Oct.;  rare  S.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common 
T.  v.,  May ;  Aug.  19  to  Oct.  24.  Cambridge,  very  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  20  to 
Oct.  20. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  on  the  ground  in  marshes.  Eggs.,  eight  to  fifteen,  huffy 
white  or  ochraceous-buff",  spotted  and  speckled  with  rufous-brown,  1*24  x  -90. 

The  Soras'  summer  home  is  in  fresh-water  marshes,  where,  if  it 
were  not  for  their  notes,  the  reeds  and  grasses  would  long  keep  the 
secret  of  their  presence.  But  knowing  their  calls,  you  have  only  to 
pass  a  May  or  June  evening  near  a  marsh  to  learn  whether  they  in- 
habit it.  If  there,  they  will  greet  you  late  in  the  afternoon  with  a 
clear  whistled  ker-wee,  which  soon  comes  from  dozens  of  invisible 
birds  about  you,  and  long  after  night  has  fallen  it  continues  like  a 
springtime  chorus  of  piping  hylas.  Now  and  again  it  is  interrupted 
by  a  high-voiced,  rolling  wMnny  which,  like  a  call  of  alarm,  is  taken 
up  and  repeated  by  different  birds  all  over  the  marsh. 

They  seem  so  absorbed  by  their  musical  devotions  that  even  when 
calling  continuously  it  requires  endless  patience  and  keen  eyes  to  see 
the  dull-colored,  motionless  forms  in  places  where  one  would  not  sup- 
pose there  was  sufficient  growth  to  conceal  them. 

Floating  silently  near  the  shore  on  my  back  in  a  canoe,  I  have  seen 
them  venture  out  to  feed.  With  tails  erect  they  step  gingerly  along, 
evidently  aware  of  their  exposed  position,  for  on  the  least  alarm  they 
dart  back  to  cover.  Sometimes  they  cross  small  streams  by  swim- 
ming, and  they  are  expert  divers. 

In  the  fall  they  gather  in  the  wild-rice  or  wild-oat  {Zizania  aquai- 
ica)  marshes,  and  a  well-directed  stone  or  unusual  noise  may  bring  a 
series  of  protesting  interrogative  kuks  or  peeps  from  the  apparently 
deserted  reeds.  At  this  season  "gunners"  in  small  flat-bottomed 
boats  are  poled  through  the  flooded  meadows,  and  the  Soras,  waiting 
until  the  last  moment,  rise  on  feeble  wing — a  mark  which  few  can 
miss.  Numerous  puffs  of  smoke  float  over  the  tall  grasses,  and  the 
dull  reports  come  booming  across  the  marsh  with  fateful  frequency. 


144  RAILS,   GALLINULES,   AND   COOTS. 

The  Spotted  Crake  {213.  Porzana  porzana) — an  Old  World  representa- 
tive of  our  Sora — is  recorded  as  "  occasional  in  Greenland." 

215.  Porzana  noveboracensis  {GmeL).  Yellow  Kail.  (See  Fig, 
22,  b.)  Ad. — Upper  parts  black,  the  feathers  bordered  with  ochraceous-butt 
and  with  from  one  to  three  narrow  white  bars;  breast  ochraceous-buft';  mid- 
dle of  the  belly  white  ;  sides  and  lower  belly  black  or  brownish,  barred  with 
white.    L.,  7-00  ;  W.,  3-40  ;  Tar.,  -95 ;  B.,  52. 

Range. — "  Eastern  North  America  from  Nova  Scotia  and  Hudson  Bay 
west  to  Utah  and  Nevada ;  no  extralimital  record  except  Cuba  and  the  Ber- 
mudas "  (A.  0.  U.). 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Oct.  Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V. 
Cambridge,  rare  T.  V.,  Apl.  and  May;  Oct.  and  Nov. 

Nest.,  on  the  ground  in  grassy  marshes,  £ggs,  six  or  more,  creamy  buflf, 
densely  sprinkled  and  speckled  on  larger  end  with  rusty  brown,  1-12  x  -83 
(Eidgw.). 

This  little  Rail  inhabits  marshes  with  others  of  its  family.  With 
them  it  seems  to  know  that  it  can  escape  its  enemies  much  more  easily 
by  hiding  in  the  tangled  grasses  of  its  home  than  by  taking  wing,  and 
it  flies  only  to  avoid  actual  capture.  It  can  be  hunted  successfully, 
therefore,  only  with  dogs. 

Nuttall  describes  its  notes  as  "  an  abrupt  and  cackling  cry,  ^krek, 
'krek,  'krek,  'krek,  'kuk,  'k'kh,^'  and  compares  them  to  the  croaking  of 
the  tree  frog. 

216.  Porzana  jamaicensis  (GmeL).     Little  Black  Eail.    Ad.— 

Head,  breast,  and  upper  belly  slate-color;  lower  belly,  back,  and  wings 
brownish  black,  barred  or  spotted  with  white;  nape  dark  reddish  brown, 
L.,  5-00;  W.,  2-80;  Tar.,  -80;  B.,  -60. 

Range. — "  Temperate  North  America,  north  to  Massachusetts,  northern 
niinois,  and  Oregon ;  south  to  West  Indies  and  in  western  South  America  to 
Chili"  (A.  0.  U.).     Probably  breeds  throughout  its  North  America  range, 

Washington,  rare  T,  V.,  several  in  Sept.     Long  Island,  rare  T.  V. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  on  the  ground  in  marshes  Eggs,  ten,  white,  thinly  sprin- 
kled with  reddish  brown  dots,  more  numerous  at  the  larger  end,  I'OO  x  -80 
(Nelson,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  i,  1876,  p.  43). 

This  bird  is  about  as  difficult  to  observe  as  a  field  mouse.  It  is 
said  to  prefer  grassy  meadows,  where,  like  others  of  its  family,  it  never 
flies  when  it  can  escape  by  running  or  hiding.  It  is  apparently  not 
common.  The  only  description  of  its  notes  I  know  of  is  given  by  Mr. 
March,  of  Jamaica,  who,  as  quoted  by  Dr.  Brewer,  writes  its  call  as 
^^  chi-chi-cro-croo-croo,  several  times  repeated  dn  sharp,  high-toned 
notes,  so  as  to  be  audible  to  a  considerable  distance." 

The  Corn  Crake  (217.  Crex  crex),  a  bird  of  Europe  and  northern  Asia,  is 
casual  in  Greenland,  Bermudas,  and  eastern  North  America.  It  is  about  the 
size  of  a  Clapper  Kail,  but  has  a  bill  no  larger  than  that  of  the  Sora.    The 


RAILS,   GALLINULES,   AND  COOTS.  14-5 

general  color  of  the  upper  parts  is  between  ochraceous-buff  and  cream-buff, 
the  feathers  with  black  centers ;  the  wing-coverts  and  most  of  the  quills  are 
pale  rufous ;  the  breast  is  pale  ochraceous-buff ;  the  sides  are  the  same,  barred 
with  white  ;  the  middle  of  the  belly  is  white. 

218.  Ioiiornismartinica>(Zm72'.).  Purple  Gallinule.  Ad. — Front 
of  the  crown  with  a  bare  bluish  plumbeous  plate ;  rest  of  the  head  and  under 
parts  rich  dark  purplish  blue  ;  under  tail-coverts  white ;  back  shining  olive- 
green ;  wings  light  blue,  tinged  with  greenish  ;  bill  carmine,  tipped  with  pale 
greenish  (in  skins,  reddish  orange,  tipped  with  yellowish) ;  legs  yellow.  Im. 
■ — Upper  parts  more  or  less  washed  with  brownish ;  under  parts  more  or  less 
mottled  with  white ;  plate  on  the  head  smaller ;  bill  without  orange-red. 
Downy  young. — Glossy  black,  head  with  numerous  white,  hairlike  feathers; 
base  of  the  bill  yellowish,  end  black.  L.,  13-00;  W.,  7-10;  Tar.,  2-40;  B. 
from  posterior  margin  of  nostril,  -80. 

Range. — Tropical  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  southern  Illinois  and 
South  Carolina,  and  rarely  strays  northward  to  Wisconsin  and  Maine ;  win- 
ters from  southern  Florida  southward. 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Eest.,  a  platform  of  reed  stalks  built  in  rushes  over  the  water  or  in  grassy 
marshes.  Eggs.,  eight  to  ten,  buffy  white,  finely  speckled  with  rufous-brown, 
1-60  X  1-15. 

This  is  a  common  bird  in  the  Southern  States.  It  winters  from 
southern  Florida  southward  and  migrates  northward  in  April.  It  is 
generally  found  associated  with  the  Florida  Gallinule,  which  it  resem- 
bles in  habits,  but  its  much  brighter  color  is  apparent  at  a  distance. 

219.  Gallinula  galeata  {LicM.).  Florida  Gallinule.  (See  Fig. 
22,  d.)  .4^.— Dark  bluish  slate-color ;  back  and  scapulars  washed  with  olive- 
brown  ;  belly  whitish;  flanks  with  a  few  conspicuous  wJiite  streahs ;  under 
tail-coverts  white  ;  crown  with  a  bare,  bright-red  plate ;  bill  the  same  color 
uipped  with  yellowish  ;  legs  greenish,  reddish  at  the  tibiae,  /m.— Similar,  but 
under  parts  grayish  white;  crown  plate  much  smaller  and  with  the  bill 
brownish ;  no  red  on  the  legs.  Doivny  young. — "  Glossy  black,  the  lower 
parts  sooty  along  the  median  line ;  throat  and  cheeks  interspersed  with  sil- 
very white  hairs  "  (Ridgw.).  L.,  13-50 ;  W.,  7-00 ;  Tar.,  2-15  ;  B.  from  poste- 
rior margin  of  nostril,  -80. 

Range. — Temperate  and  tropical  America ;  breeds  locally  as  far  north  as 
Minnesota  and  southern  Maine ;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  southward. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  Apl.;  Aug.  to  Oct.  Long  Island,  uncommon 
T.  v..  May;  Sept.  and  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  rare  S.  K,  June  5  to  Nov.  5.  Cam- 
bridge, uncommon  S.  R.,  May  10  to  Oct.  1. 

Mst.,  of  rushes  on  a  bed  of  rushes  or  similar  slight  elevation  in  marshes, 
lagoons,  or  swampy  lake  sides.  Eggs,  eight  to  thirteen,  buffy  white  or  ochra- 
ceous-buff, spotted  and  speckled  with  rufous-brown,  1-80  x  1-25. 

There  is  something  about  the  appearance  and  habits  of  Gallinules 
wMch  always  suggests  to  me  the  thought  that  they  are  chickens  who 
11 


146  RAILS,   GALLINULES,   AND   COOTS. 

for  unknown  reasons  have  been  forced  to  adopt  the  ways  of  both  Coots 
and  Rails.  Indeed,  now  I  think  of  it,  the  names  Water-hen  and  Moor- 
hen are  applied  to  near  relatives  of  our  bird. 

They  frequent  marshy,  reed-  or  bush-grown  shores  of  ponds  and 
lakes,  walking  gracefully  through  the  tangled  vegetation.  Their  flight 
is  short  and,  like  a  Rail,  with  dangling  legs  they  drop  awkwardly  to  the 
ground.  They  swim  readily,  and  when  on  the  water  resemble  a  Coot, 
though  they  are  by  no  means  so  aquatic.  Their  notes  are  loud  and 
varied,  and  during  the  nesting  season  they  are  unusually  noisy.  Their 
common  note  is  a  loud,  explosive  chuck  ;  other  calls  are  suggestive  of 
the  barnyard,  and  remind  one  of  the  protest  of  a  disturbed  brooding 
hen  or  even  the  squawking  of  a  struggling  fowl.  In  The  Auk,  vol. 
viii,  pages  1-7,  Mr.  Brewster  gives  a  detailed  account  of  his  study  of  a 
pair  of  Gallinules. 

221.  Fulica  americana  G-mel.  American  Coot;  Mud-hen;  Crow 
Duck  ;  Blue  Peter.  (See  Fig.  22,  e.)  Ad. — ^Head  and  neck  blackish  ;  rest  of 
the  plumage  dark,  bluish  slate-color,  paler  below ;  edge  of  the  wing,  tips  of 
the  secondaries.,  and  under  tail-coverts  white ;  bill  whitish,  two  spots  near  its 
tip  and  crown  plate  brownish ;  legs  and  feet  greenish  ;  toes  with  scalloped 
flaps.  Ira. — Similar,  but  much  whiter  below,  a  slight  brownish  wash  above ; 
crown  plate  much  smaller.  Downy  young. — Blackish,  white  below  ;  throat  and 
upper  parts  with  numerous  bright  orange  hairlike  feathers ;  lores  red  ;  bill  red, 
tipped  with  black.  L.,  15-00 ;  W.,  7*50 ;  Tar.,  2-25  ;  B.  from  posterior  margin 
of  nostril,  -80. 

RemarTcs. — The  Coot  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  the  Florida  Gallinule, 
but,  aside  from  the  differences  in  color,  the  scalloped  webbed  feet  of  the  Coot 
will  always  serve  to  distinguish  them. 

Range. — North  America  as  far  north  as  Alaska  and  New  Brunswick,  and 
casually  Greenland ;  breeds  locally  throughout  its  range ;  rather  rare  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  during  the  nesting  season. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  to  May  ;  Sept.  to  Oct.  15.  Long  Island, 
uncommon  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  not  uncommon,  Sept.  to  Nov.  Sing  Sing,  common 
T.  v.,  Apl.  28  to  May  16  ;  Sept.  22  to  Nov.  13.  Cambridge,  T.  V.,  rare  in 
Apl. ;  common  Sept.  to  Nov. 

Nest.1  of  reeds,  grasses,  etc.,  among  reeds  in  fresh-water  marshes.  Eggs., 
eight  to  fifteen,  pale,  huffy  white,  finely  and  uniformly  speckled  with  choco- 
late or  black,  1*85  x  1-25. 

As  one  might  imagine  after  seeing  their  lobed  feet.  Coots  are  more 
aquatic  than  either  of  the  Gallinules.  In  the  Middle  States  they  are 
found  in  creeks  and  rivers  with  marshy  and  reed-grown  shores,  while 
in  Florida  they  resort  in  enormous  numbers  to  lakes  covered  with  the 
yellow  lilies  locally  known  as  "  bonnets "  (Nuphar) ;  and  in  some  of 
the  large,  shallow  rivers,  like  Indian  River,  they  may  be  found  in 
myriads,  associated  with  Lesser  Scaup  Ducks. 

In  my  experience  they  are  as  a  rule  quite  shy ;  but  near  the  long 


( 


PHALAEOPES.  147 

railway  pier  at  Titusville,  Florida,  where  shooting  is  prohibited,  they 
are  as  tame  as  domestic  Ducks.  They  evidently  know  the  boundary 
line  between  safety  and  danger,  however,  and  when  beyond  the  pro- 
tected limits  show  their  usual  caution. 

Coots  swim  easily,  with  a  peculiar  bobbing  motion  of  the  head  and 
neck.  When  alarmed  they  patter  over  the  water,  using  their  feet  as 
much  as  their  wings.     The  sound  produced  is  a  characteristic  one. 

They  are  noisy  birds,  and  when  alarmed  break  out  into  a  great 
chorus  of  high,  cackling  notes  which  I  have  heard  at  a  distance  of  half 
a  mile.  Their  ivory-white  bill  is  an  excellent  field  mark,  and  readily 
serves  to  distinguish  Coots  from  Gallinules. 

The  European  Coot  {220.  Fulica  atra)  inhabits  the  northern  parts  of  the 
Old  World,  and  sometimes  occurs  in  Greenland.  It  closely  resembles  the 
American  Coot,  but  lacks  the  white  markings  on  the  edge  of  the  wing  and 
under  tail-coverts. 


ORDER    LIMIGOL^.     SHORE  BIRDS. 

Family  Phalaropodid^.    Phalaropes. 

There  are  three  known  members  of  this  family :  one  is  confined  to 
the  interior  of  North  America,  the  other  two  may  be  called  Sea  Snipe, 
and  are  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  The 
webbed  feet  of  these  pelagic  species  enable  them  to  swim  with  ease, 
and  during  their  migrations  they  may  be  found  in  flocks  resting  upon 
the  sea  far  from  land.  Their  presence  on  our  shores  is  largely  de- 
pendent upon  the  weather,  and  during  severe  storms  many  are  some- 
times found  upon  our  coasts.  Contrary  to  the  usual  rule,  the  female 
in  this  family  is  the  larger  and  more  brightly  colored — indeed,  in  the 
domestic  economy  of  the  Phalarope  household  the  female  is  male,  ex- 
cept in  the  prime  essentials  of  sex.  She  does  the  wooing,  takes  the 
lead  in  selecting  the  nesting  site,  and,  although  she  lays  the  eggs,  the 
duties  of  incubation  fall  upon  the  male. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Bill  over  1-10 224.  Wilson's  Phalarope. 

B.  Bill  under  1-10. 

a.  Bill  very  slender ;  wing  under  4-75  .     .     .      223.  Northern  Phalarope. 
h.  Bill  stout ;  wing  over  4*75 222.  Eed  Phalarope. 

222.  Crymophilus  fiilicarius  {Linn.).     Eed  Phalarope;   Gray 

Phalarope.  (See  Fig.  26,  a.)  Ad.  in  sumvier. — Crown  and  chin  fuscous; 
cheeks  white;  back  black,  the  feathers  bordered  with  cream-buff;  wings 
gray ;  some  of  the  secondaries  and  tips  of  greater  coverts  white ;  upper  tail- 


148  PHALAROPES. 

coverts  rufous  ;  under  parts  dull,  reddish  brown.  Ad.  in  winter. — Top  of  the 
head  and  under  parts  white ;  region  about  the  eye  and  back  of  the  neck  fus- 
cous ;  back  and  scapulars  dark  pearl-gray  ;  wings  grayish  fuscous,  the  coverts 
and  secondaries  tipped  with  white ;  rump  and  tail  fuscous,  /m.— "  Top  of  the 
head,  hind  neck,  back,  and  scapulars  dull  black,  the  feathers  edged  with  ochra- 
ceous;  wing-coverts,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts  plumbeous,  the  middle 
coverts  bordered  with  pale  buff,  the  tail-coverts  with  ochraceous ;  head  and 
neck  (except  as  described  above)  and  lower  parts  white,  the  throat  and  chest 
tinged  with  brownish  buff.     L.,  8-12 ;  W.,  5-37  ;  B.,  -87  ;  Tar.,  -82"  (Ridgw.). 

Range. — "  Northern  parts  of  northern  hemisphere,  breeding  in  the  arctic 
regions  and  migrating  south  in  winter;  in  the  United  States,  south  to  the 
Middle  States,  Ohio  Valley,  and  Cape  St.  Lucas  ;  chiefly  maritime  "  (A.  0.  U.). 

Washington,  casual,  one  record,  Oct.  Long  Island,  not  uncommon  T.  V., 
May  ;  Aug.  to  Nov. 

Nest.,  a  slight  hollow  in  the  ground  lined  with  a  few  bits  of  moss  and 
grasses.    Eggs.,  three  to  four,  similar  to  those  of  the  following  species,  1-25  x  -90. 

This  pelagic  species  is  found  in  numbers  some  distance  off  our 
coasts ;  it  occurs  on  land  rarely,  and  generally  only  after  storms. 

2S3.  Phalaropus lobatus  {Linn.).   Northern  Phalarope.   Ad.  ?  in 

summer. — Upper  parts  slaty  gray  ;  back  and  scapulars  edged  with  ochraceous- 
buff";  sides  and  front  of  the  neck  rufous,  more  or  less  mixed  with  slaty  gray ; 
rest  of  under  parts  white.  Ad.  6  in  summer. — Similar,  but  upper  parts  black, 
and  with  more  ochraceous ;  sides  and  front  of  the  neck  mixed  with  fuscous. 
Ads.  in  winter. — Upper  parts  grayish,  more  or  less  mixed  with  white  ^tips  of 
greater  wing-coverts  and  sometimes  part  of  the  secondaries  white,  occasion- 
ally with  traces  of  rufous  on  the  sides  of  the  neck ;  under  parts  white,  more 
or  less  mottled  with  grayish  on  the  breast.  Im. — Upper  parts  black,  edged 
with  straw-color;  forehead  white  ;  under  parts  white,  breast  sometimes  lightly 
washed  with  buffy.     L.,  7-75 ;  W.,  4-50 ;  Tar.,  '80 ;    B.,  -85. 

Range. — "Northern  portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  breeding  in 
arctic  latitudes ;  south  in  winter  to  the  tropics  "  (A.  O.  U.). 

Washington,  casual,  one  record,  Sept.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  Aug. 
to  Nov. ;  May. 

Nest.,  a  slight  hollow  in  the  ground  lined  with  grass  and  mosses.  Eggs., 
three  to  four,  pale  olive-gray  heavily  blotched  with  deep  chocolate,  1"18  x  -SS, 

During  its  presence  off  our  coasts  this  species  resembles  the  pre- 
ceding in  habits.  It  is,  however,  more  common,  and  under  proper 
conditions  sometimes  occurs  in  larger  flights.  I  have  seen  it  in  great 
numbers  about  one  hundred  miles  off  Barnegat,  New  Jersey,  in  May. 
For  several  hours  the  steamer  passed  through  flocks  of  these  Sea 
Snipe,  which  were  swimming  on  the  ocean.  They  arose  in  a  body  at 
our  approach,  and  in  close  rank  whirled  away  to  the  right  or  left  in 
search  of  new  feeding  grounds. 

224.  Phala>ropus  tricolor  (  Vieill.).  Wilson's  Phalarope.  Ad. 
5  in  summer. — Top  of  the  head  and  middle  of  the  back  pearl-gray,  nape 


AVOCETS   AND   STILTS.  149 

wliite ;  a  black  streak  passes  through  the  eye  to  the  side  of  the  neck  and, 
changing  to  rufous-chestnut,  continues  down  the  sides  of  the  back  and  on  the 
scapulars ;  neck  and  upper  breast  washed  with  pale,  brownish  rufous  ;  rest  of 
the  under  parts  and  upper  tail-coverts  white.  Ad.  $  in  summer. — Upper  parts 
fuscous-brown,  bordered  with  grayish  brown  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  nape,  and  a 
line  over  the  eye  white  or  whitish  ;  sides  of  the  neck  and  breast  washed  with 
rufous ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  white.  Ads.  in  ivinter. — Upper  parts  gray, 
margined  with  white ;  upper  tail-coverts  white ;  wings  fuscous,  their  coverts 
margined  with  butty;  under  parts  white.  Im. — "Top  of  head,  back,  and 
scapulars  dusky  blackish,  the  feathers  distinctly  bordered  with  buff';  wing- 
coverts  also  bordered  with  pale  buff  or  whitish ;  upper  tail-coverts,  superciliary 
stripe,  and  lower  parts  white,  the  neck  tinged  with  buff'"  (Ridgw.).  i  L., 
8-75 ;  W.,  4-75 ;  Tar.,  1-20 ;  B.,  1-20.     9  L.,  9*50 ;  W.,  5-25 ;  Tar.,  1-30  ;  B.,  1-30. 

Range. — "  Temperate  North  America,  chiefly  in  the  interior,  breeding  from 
northern  Illinois  and  Utah  northward  to  the  Saskatchewan  region ;  south  in 
winter  to  Brazil  and  Patagonia"  (A.  O.  U.). 

Long  Island,  casual,  Aug.,  Sept.,  and  Oct. 

Nest.1  a  shallow  depression  in  soft  earth  lined  with  a  thin  layer  of  frag- 
ments of  grass.  Eggs.^  three  to  four,  cream-buff  or  buffy  white,  heavily 
blotched  with  deep  chocolate,  1-28  x  -94.  (See  Nelson,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn. 
Club,  ii,  1879,  pp.  38-43.) 

"  These  birds  are  rare  in  the  Eastern  States,  abundant  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  and  quite  common  westward  within  their  range.  They 
inhabit  the  marshes,  swales,  and  edges  of  shallow  ponds,  feeding  upon 
minute  snails  and  other  small  forms  of  life  that  abound  in  their  aquatic 
haunts,  procuring  the  same  chiefly  by  running  over  the  moist  ground 
or  wading  in  the  short  growths  of  water  grasses.  They  swim  buoy- 
antly, but  seldom  long  at  a  time  or  far  from  the  shore,  and  I  never 
saw  one  dive  or  make  an  attempt  to  do  so,  but,  when  frightened,  pre- 
fer to  escape  by  flight,  which  is  strong,  but  at  such  times  in  a  zigzag 
and  wavy  manner,  dropping  back  as  soon  as  out  of  danger.  As  a  rule 
they  are  not  timid,  and  are  easily  approached.  Their  motions,  whether 
upon  the  land  or  water,  are  easy  and  pleasing,  gracefully  nodding  the 
head  or  picking  from  side  to  side  as  they  go  "  (Goss). 

Family  Recurvirostrid^.    Avocets  and  Stilts. 

The  eleven  species  comprising  this  family  are  distributed  through- 
out the  warmer  parts  of  the  world.  They  are  generally  found  in 
flocks,  and  may  be  called  Wading  Snipe.  They  feed  in  shallow  water, 
wading  to  their  heels,  and  when  necessary  swimming  with  ease. 

235.  Recurvirostra  americana  Gmel.  American  Avocet.  Ad. 
in  summer. — Head  and  neck  cinnamon-rufous,  back  and  tail  white,  scapulars 
and  primaries  black ;  middle  coverts,  tips  of  the  greater  ones,  and  part  of  sec- 
ondaries white ;  belly  white,  bill  turned  upward.     Ad.  in  winter  and  Im.^ 


150  SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 

Generally  similar,  but  head  and  neck  white  or  pearl-gray.  L.,  16-50;  W., 
9-00 ;  Tar.,  3-75 ;  B.,  3-75. 

Range. — Temperate  North  America;  rare  or  accidental  on  the  Atlantic 
coast ;  breeds  from  Illinois,  and  rarely  Texas,  northward  to  the  Saskatche- 
wan ;  winters  along  the  Gulf  coast  and  southward. 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest.^  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground  in  marshy  places.  Eggs.,  three  to 
four,  pale  olive  or  buffy  clay-color,  thickly  spotted  with  chocolate,  1-95  x  1-35. 

Avocets  are  common  birds  in  parts  of  the  interior,  but  are  rare  on 
the  Atlantic  coast.  They  frequent  shores  and  shallow  pools,  and  in 
searching  for  shells,  crustaceans,  etc.,  their  peculiar  recurved  bill  is 
used  in  a  most  interesting  manner.  Dropping  it  beneath  the  surface 
of  the  water  until  its  convexity  touches  the  bottom,  they  move  rap- 
idly forward,  and  with  every  step  swing  their  bill  from  side  to  side,  as 
a  mower  does  his  scythe.  In  this  way  they  secure  food  which  the 
muddy  water  would  prevent  them  from  seeing. 

236.    TTi tn ^■■nfnpiifi    mexicainus    {Mull.).      Black-necked    Stilt. 

Ad.  3  .—A  white  spot  above  and  another  below  the  eye ;  front  of  the  head, 
front  of  the  neck,  lower  back,  rump,  and  under  parts  white ;  tail  grayish  ;  rest 
of  the  plumage  glossy,  greenish  black.  Ad.  9  .—Similar,  but  with  the  back 
fuscous-brown.  Im. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  head  and  neck  more  or 
less  marked  with  white ;  back  and  scapulars  bordered  with  white  or  whitish. 
L.,  15-00  ;  W.,  9-00 ;  Tar.,  4-15  ;  B.,  2-00. 

Range. — Tropical  America,  breeding  northward  to  the  Gulf  coast  and 
"  locally  and  rarely  "  up  the  Mississippi  Valley  as  far  as  Minnesota ;  rare  on 
the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Florida,  but  straying  sometimes  as  far  as  Maine. 

Long  Island,  A.  V. 

Nest.1  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground  lined  with  grasses.  Eggs.,  three 
to  four,  olive  or  bufi'y  clay-color,  thickly  spotted  with  chocolate,  1-70  x  1-25. 

Stilts  are  fond  of  wading  in  shallow  ponds  in  salt  marshes,  and  are 
graceful  and  alert  in  their  movements.  During  the  nesting  season 
they  become  very  noisy,  and  at  nightfall  I  have  heard  them  utter  their 
froglike  croak  as  they  darted  erratically  about  over  the  marshes. 

Family  Scolopacid^.    Snipes,  Sandpipers,  etc. 

About  one  hundred  species  are  considered  as  belonging  to  this 
family.  They  are  distributed  throughout  the  world,  but  during  the 
breeding  season  are  mostly  confined  to  the  northern  parts  of  the  north- 
ern hemisphere.  Some  forty-five  species  are  found  in  North  America. 
With  the  Plovers  they  constitute  the  great  group  known  as  Shore 
Birds  or  Bay  Birds,  and  with  few  exceptions  they  are  rarely  found  far 
from  the  vicinity  of  water.  Generally  speaking,  they  are  more  abun- 
dant on  the  coast  than  in  the  interior,  but  many  species  are  quite  as 
numerous  inland  as  they  are  near  the  sea.     As  a  rule,  they  migrate 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC.  151 

and  pass  the  winter  in  flocks,  but  they  are  not  gregarious  during  the 
nesting  season. 

Their  long  bills  serve  the  purpose  of  both  probes  and  forceps. 
Most  of  the  species  probe  the  soft  mud  for  food,  while  some  are  known 
to  have  the  power  of  moving  the  upper  mandible  independently  of 
the  lower  one,  curving  it  at  the  tip  as  one  would  a  finger. 

Snipes  are  not  supposed  to  be  song  birds,  but  during  the  breeding 
season  inany  species  are  highly  and  peculiarly  musical,  and  at  other 
times  of  the  year  they  utter  characteristic  whistles.  These  are  sus- 
ceptible of  imitation,  and  the  birds  are  quick  to  respond  to  an  imita- 
tion of  their  notes.  The  sportsman  concealed  in  his  "  blind,"  there- 
fore, calls  to  passing  birds,  and  with  the  aid  of  wooden  decoys  easily 
draws  them  within  gunshot. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Bill  2-00  or  over. 

A.  Axillars  *  barred  with  black. 

a.  Bill  curved  downward. 

ai.  Bill  over  3-00,  under  4*50 265.  Hudsonian  Cuklew. 

«2.  Bill  under  3-00 266.  Eskimo  Curlew. 

a3.  Bill  over  4-50 264.  Long-billed  Cuklew. 

b.  Bill  straight  or  curved  slightly  upwai'd. 
&i.  Tail-feathers  with  numerous  black  bars. 

b^.  Wing  over  7'00,  primaries  black  or  fuscous. 

254.  Greater  Yellow-legs. 
5*.  "Wing  over  7'00,  inner  web  of  primaries  buff  or  rufous. 

249.  Mabbled  Godwit. 
b*.  Wing  under  7*00,  bill  widened  and  pitted  at  the  tip. 

231.  DowiTCHER.     232.  Long-billed  Dowitcher. 
c*.  Tail  black  with  a  broad  rufous  tip  or  marked  with  rufous. 
c'.  Outer  web  of  primary  with  rufous  bars. 

227.  European  "Woodcock. 

c3.  Primaries  not  barred 230.  Wilson's  Snipe. 

£.  Axillars  not  barred. 

a.  Axillars  rufous  or  ochraceous-buff. 

a^.  Bill  over  5-00,  much  curved  downward. 

264.  Long-billed  Curlew. 
a'.  Bill  nearly  straight,  between  3-50  and  5-00. 

249.  Marbled  Godwit, 
a3.  Bill  straight,  under  3*50 228.  American  Woodcock. 

b.  Axillars  black. 

b^.  Under  parts  chestnut-rufous,  barred  with  black. 

251.  Hudsonian  Godwit. 
b'.  Under  parts  white,  with  or  without  blackish  bars. 

258.  WiLLET.     258a.  Western  Willet. 

*  See  Fig.  64. 


152  SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,  ETO. 

II.  Bill  under  200. 

A.  Tail  with  cross-bars. 

a.  Wing  over  5'75. 

ai.  Outer  tail-feathers  white,  more  or  less  barred  ;  outer  primary  with 

out  bars 255.  Yellow-legs, 

a*.  Outer  primary  with  numerous  black  bars. 

261.  Bartramian  Sandpiper. 

b.  Wing  under  5-75. 

fti.  Under  parts  white,  with  numerous  round  blackish  spots  ;  upper  parts 
brownish  gray,  barred  with  blackish  .     .     263.  Spotted  Sandpiper. 

b^.  Under  parts  white,  breast  streaked  with  blackish  ;  upper  parts  fus- 
cous, spotted  with  white 256.  Solitary  Sandpiper. 

b^.  Under  parts  tinged  with  buflfy,  inner  web  of  outer  primary  speckled 
with  blackish 262.  Buff-breasted  Sandpiper. 

b*.  Under  parts  white,  breast  washed  with  grayish,  inner  primaries  and 
secondaries  with  a  concealed  white  patch. 

263.  Spotted  Sandpiper  (Ira.). 

B.  Tail  without  cross-bars,  toes  4. 

a.  Bill  over  1-10. 

a^.  Middle  upper  tail-coverts  with  cross-bars  or  streaks. 

flS.  Tarsus  over  1-50 233.  Stilt  Sandpiper. 

a^.  Tarsus  under  1-50,  wing  under  6'00.    .    244.  Curlew  Sandpiper. 

a*.  Tarsus  under  1*50,  wing  over  6*00 234.  Knot. 

b^.  Middle   upper  tail-coverts  black    or   fuscous,  without  bars;    bill 
straight. 
b^.  Tarsus  under  1-50 ;  upper  parts  blackish,  more  or  less  margined 

with  gray 235.  Purple  Sandpiper. 

b^.  Tarsus  under  1"50  ;  upper  parts  more  or  less  margined  with  rufous. 

239.  Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

b*.  Tarsus  over  1-50 260.  Euff. 

ci.  Middle  upper  tail-coverts  grayish,  bill  curved  slightly  downward. 

243a.  Eed-backed  Sandpiper. 

b.  Bill  under  1-10. 

b^.  Wing  under  4*00. 
52.  Toes  partly  webbed. 

246.  Semipalmated  Sandpiper.     247.  Western  Sandpiper. 

J3.  Toes  not  webbed 242.  Least  Sandpiper. 

(ji.  Wing  over  4-00,  inner  webs  of  primaries  plain. 
c2.  Breast  white  or  whitish,  streaked  or  spotted  with  blackish  ;  mid- 
dle upper  tail-coverts  white   .     .     240.  White-rumped  Sandpiper. 
c3.  Breast  buflPy,  heavily  spotted  or  streaked  with  blackish ;  middle 
upper  tail-coverts  black,  slightly  margined  with  rufous. 

239.  Pectoral  Sandpiper. 
c*.  Breast  buffy  lightly  spotted  or  streaked  with  black  ;  middle  upper 
tail-coverts  fuscous,  lightly  margined  with  buffy. 

241.  Baird's  Sandpiper. 
d^.  Wing  over  4-00,  inner  webs  of  primaries  speckled. 

262.  Buff-breasted  Sandpiper. 
0.  Tail  without  cross-bars,  toes  S 248.  Sanderling. 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,  ETC.  153 

228.  Philohela  minor  (6^m.6^.).  American  Woodcock.  Ad. — Front 
of  the  crown  slaty,  washed  with  buff,  an  indistinct  blackish  line  in  its  center, 
•and  another  from  the  eye  to  the  bill ;  back  of  the  head  black,  with  two  or 
three  bars  of  ochraceous-butf;  rest  of  the  upper  parts  black,  margined  with 
slaty  and  barred  and  mottled  with  rufous  or  ochraceous-buff ;  tip  of  the  tail 
ashy  gray  above,  silvery  beneath  ;  under  parts  between  ochraceous-butf  and 
rufous ;  three  outer  primaries  very  narrow  and  much  stiffened.  L.,  11-00 ; 
W.,  5-40  ;  Tar.,  1-25  ;  B.,  2-90. 

Eange. — Eastern  North  America  north  to  Labrador  and  Manitoba,  breed- 
ing nearly  throughout  its  range,  but  not  commonly  in  the  southern  part  of  it ; 
winters  from  southern  Illinois  and  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  rather  common  from  Feb.  to  Nov.;  a  few  winter.  Long 
Island,  common  S.  R. ;  a  few  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  K.,  Feb.  19  to 
Dec.  2.    Cambridge,  S.  E.,  formerly  common,  fast  becoming  rare ;  Mch.  to  Nov. 

Nest.,  of  a  few  dry  leaves,  on  the  ground  in  the  woods.  Eggs.,  four,  buffy, 
distinctly  and  obscurely  spotted  with  shades  of  rufous,  1"60  x  1'23. 

During  the  spring  and  early  summer  this  Owl  among  Snipe  haunts 
low,  wooded  bottom-lands ;  in  August,  while  molting,  it  resorts  to  corn- 
fields near  woods,  and  in  the  fall  migrating  birds  frequent  wooded  up- 
lands. But  at  all  times  it  requires  a  soft,  moist  earth  in  which  it  may 
easily  probe  with  its  long  bill  for  its  fare  of  earthworms.  The  holes 
it  makes  are  known  as  "  borings."  They  are  generally  found  in  little 
groups,  and  are,  of  course,  certain  evidence  of  the  presence  of  Wood- 
cock. It  has  recently  been  discovered  by  Mr.  Gurdon  Trumbull  that 
the  Woodcock  can  move  the  tip  of  its  upper  mandible  independently 
of  the  lower  one,  and  this  organ  is  made  to  act  as  a  finger  to  assist  the 
bird  in  drawing  its  food  from  the  ground. 

The  flight  of  the  Woodcock  is  sometimes  accompanied  by  a  high, 
whistling  sound  produced  by  its  narrow,  stiffened  primaries  in  beating 
the  air.  When  flushed  near  its  nest  or  young,  the  parent  bird  gen- 
erally feigns  lameness  or  a  broken  wing,  and  leads  the  intruder  some 
distance  from  its  treasures  before  taking  wing. 

The  cloak  of  night  always  lends  a  certain  mystery  to  the  doings  of 
nocturnal  birds,  and  more  often  than  not  their  habits  justify  our  un- 
usual interest  in  them.  How  many  evenings  have  I  tempted  the  ma- 
laria germs  of  Jersey  lowlands  to  watch  the  Woodcock  perform  his 
strange  sky  dance !  He  begins  on  the  ground  with  a  formal,  periodic 
peent,  peent,  an  incongruous  preparation  for  the  wild  rush  that  follows. 
It  is  repeated  several  times  before  he  springs  from  the  ground  and  on 
whistling  wings  sweeps  out  on  the  first  loop  of  a  spiral  which  may 
take  him  300  feet  from  the  ground.  Faster  and  faster  he  goes,  louder 
and  shriller  sounds  his  wing-song ;  then,  after  a  moment's  pause,  with 
darting,  headlong  flight,  he  pitches  in  zigzags  to  the  earth,  uttering  as 
he  falls  a  clear,  twittering  whistle.     He  generally  returns  to  near  the 


154:  SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 

place  from  which  he  arose,  and  the  peent  is  at  once  resumed  as  a  pre- 
liminary to  another  round  in  the  sky. 

The  EuKOPEAN  Woodcock  {227.  Scolopax  rusticola)  bears  a  general  re- 
semblance to  our  Woodcock,  but  is  much  larger ;  the  under  parts  are  barred 
with  black,  the  wings  are  barred  with  rufous,  and  the  outer  primaries  are  not 
emarginate.     It  is  of  accidental  occurrence  in  eastern  North  America. 

230.  GaUinagO  delicata  ( Orel).  Wilson's  Snipe  ;  English  Snipe. 
Ad. — Upper  parts  black,  barred,  bordered,  and  mottled  with  dilferent  shades 
of  cream-butf ;  wings  fuscous  ;  outer  edge  of  outer  primary  and  tips  of  greater 
coverts  white ;  throat  white ;  neck  and  breast  ochraceous-bufi',  indistinctly 
streaked  with  blackish ;  belly  white,  sides  barred  with  black ;  under  tail- 
coverts  huffy,  barred  with  black ;  outer  tail-feathers  barred  with  black  and 
white,  inner  ones  black,  barred  with  rufous  at  their  ends  and  tipped  with 
whitish.    L.,  11-25 ;  W.,  5-00  ;  Tar.,  1-20  ;  B.,  2-50. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  southern  Minnesota,  northern  Illi- 
nois, northwestern  Pennsylvania,  and  Connecticut  northward  to  Hudson  Bay 
and  Labrador,  and  wintering  from  southern  Illinois  and  South  Carolina  to 
northern  South  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  to  May  5;  fall;  occasional  in  winter. 
Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Apl. ;  Aug.  to  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  tol- 
erably common  T.  V.,  Mch.  20  to  May  6  ;  Oct.  6  to  Nov.  20.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon T.  v.,  Apl.  5  to  May  5  ;  Sept.  and  Oct. 

Eggs.1  three  to  four,  olive,  clay-color,  or  brownish  ashy,  heavily  marked 
with  chocolate,  principally  at  the  larger  end,  1-60  x  1-17. 

Wilson's  Snipe  frequents  fresh-water  meadows  and  swamps,  and 
in  spring  is  often  found  in  low-lying  swales  in  meadows  or  mowing 
fields,  but,  excepting  in  very  dry  seasons,  it  seldom  alights  on  salt 
marshes.  At  times,  especially  in  winter  or  early  spring,  when  the 
meadows  are  covered  with  snow  or  ice,  it  resorts  to  springy  runs 
wooded  with  alders,  birches,  and  maples,  but  as  a  rule  it  prefers  open 
places.  Two  things  are  essential  to  its  requirements — ground  so 
thoroughly  water-soaked  as  to  afford  slight  resistance  to  its  long  and 
highly  sensitive  bill  when  probing,  and  such  concealment  as  tussocks, 
hillocks,  or  long  grass  afford,  for,  unlike  the  Sandpipers,  the  Snipe 
rarely  ventures  out  on  bare  mud  flats,  save  under  cover  of  darkness. 
Although  less  strictly  nocturnal  than  the  Woodcock,  it  feeds  and  mi- 
grates chiefly  by  night  or  in  "  thick  "  weather.  Its  migratory  move- 
ments are  notoriously  erratic,  and  meadows  which  one  day  are  alive 
with  birds  may  be  quite  deserted  the  next,  or  the  reverse. 

Dear  to  our  sportsmen  is  Wilson's  Snipe,  partly  because  of  the  ex- 
cellence of  its  flesh,  but  chiefly  from  the  fact  that  it  furnishes  a  mark 
which  taxes  their  skill  to  the  utmost,  and  which  no  mere  novice  need 
hope  to  hit,  unless  by  accident ;  for  the  bird's  flight  is  swift  and  tortu- 
ous, and  it  springs  from  the  grass  as  if  thrown  by  a  catapult,  uttering 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC.  I55 

a  succession  of  hoarse,  rasping  scaipes  which  have  a  peculiarly  start- 
ling effect  on  inexperienced  nerves. 

In  the  springtime — and  occasionally  in  autumn  also — Wilson's 
Snipe  mounts  to  a  considerable  height  above  his  favorite  meadows  and 
darts  downward  with  great  velocity,  making  at  each  descent  a  low  yet 
penetrating,  tremulous  sound  which  suggests  the  winnowing  of  a  domes- 
tic Pigeon's  wings,  or,  if  heard  at  a  distance,  the  bleating  of  a  goat,  and 
which  is  thought  to  be  produced  by  the  rushing  of  the  air  through  the 
wings  of  the  Snipe.  This  performance  may  be  sometimes  witnessed  in 
broad  daylight  when  the  weather  is  stormy,  but  ordinarily  it  is  re- 
served for  the  morning  and  evening  twilight  and  for  moonlight  nights, 
when  it  is  often  kept  up  for  hours  in  succession. 

Besides  this  "drumming"  or  "bleating,"  as  it  is  called,  the  Snipe, 
while  mating,  sometimes  makes  another  peculiar  sound,  a  kuk-kuk- 
kuk-kuk-kup,  evidently  vocal  and  occasionally  accompanying  a  slow, 
labored,  and  perfectly  direct  flight,  at  the  end  of  which  the  bird  alights 
on  a  tree  or  fence  post  for  a  few  moments. — William  Brewster. 

The  European  Snipe  {229.  GalUnago  gallinago)  inhabits  the  northern 
parts  of  the  Old  World,  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Greenland,  and  accidental 
in  the  Bermudas. 

231.  Macrorhamphus  griseus  (6^m6^.).  Dowitcher.  (See  Figs. 
25,  a,  26,  c.)  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts,  tertials,  and  wing-coverts  black,  the 
feathers  edged  or  barred  with  ochraceous-bufl'  or  rufous ;  rump,  upper  tail- 
coverts,  and  tail  barred  with  black  and  more  or  less  ochraceous-buff ;  prima- 
ries fuscous ;  under  parts  dull,  pale  rufous,  whitish  on  the  belly,  more  or  less 
spotted  and  barred  with  black.  Ad.  in  winter. — Upper  parts  brownish  gray  ; 
rump  and  tail  barred  with  black  and  white ;  throat  and  breast  washed  with 
ashy,  belly  white,  sides  and  under  tail-coverts  barred  with  black.  Im. — Upper 
parts  black,  the  feathers  edged  with  rufous ;  rump  and  tail  barred  with  black 
and  white,  and  sometimes  washed  with  rufous ;  secondaries  widely  edged  with 
white ;  under  parts  more  or  less  washed  with  ochraceous-buft  and  obscurely 
spotted  with  blackish.    L.,  10-50;  W.,  5-75;  Tar.,  1-30;  B.,  2-05-2-50. 

Remarhs. — The  barred  tail  and  tail-coverts,  with  the  peculiar  flattened, 
pitted  tip  of  the  bill,  are  characteristic  of  this  and  the  next  species. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  within  the  Arctic  Circle,  and 
wintering  from  Florida  to  South  America. 

Washington,  casual,  one  specimen,  Sept.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V., 
May ;  July  to  Sept.  15. 

Eggs.,  four,  light  bufl'y  olive,  distinctly  spotted  and  speckled,  especially 
about  the  larger  end,  with  deep  brown,  1-65  x  1-13  (Eidgw.). 

The  Dowitchers  are  among  our  best-known  Bay  Birds.  They 
migrate  in  compact  flocks  which  are  easily  attracted  to  decoys  by  an 
imitation  of  their  call.  Mud-fiats  and  bars  exposed  by  the  falling  tide 
are  their  chosen  feeding  grounds.     On  the  Gulf  coast  of  Florida  I  have 


156  SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 

seen  several  hundred  gathered  in  such  close  rank  that  they  entirely 
concealed  the  sandbar  on  which  they  were  resting. 

232.  Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus  {Sat/).  Long-billed  Dow- 
itcher;  Western  Dowitcher.  Ad.  in  summer. — Similar  to  the  preceding, 
but  averaging  larger ;  the  bill  especially  is  longer,  the  under  parts  are  more 
uniformly  rufous,  and  the  sides  are  more  heavily  barred  with  black.  Ad.  in 
lointer  and  Im. — To  be  distinguished  from  the  corresponding  stages  of  M.  gri- 
seus  only  by  their  larger  size.     W.,  6-00 ;  Tar.,  1-50 ;  B.,  2-10-2-90. 

Range. — "  Mississippi  Valley  and  western  prQvince  of  North  America  from 
Mexico  to  Alaska ;  less  common,  but  of  regular  occurrence  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  the  United  States  "  (A.  0.  U.). 

Washington,  casual,  seven  shot  in  Apl.    Long  Island,  casual,  July  to  Oct. 

Eggs.^  four,  not  distinguishable  from  those  of  the  preceding  species. 

This  is  a  bird  of  the  interior  and  Western  States,  and  occurs  on  our 
coasts  as  a  rare  but  regular  late  fall  migrant.  It  resembles  the  pre- 
ceding species  in  habits,  but  the  baymen  who  "  gun "  for  Snipe  say 
they  can  recognize  it  by  its  somewhat  different  notes.  Like  the  Wood- 
cock, Wilson's  Snipe,  and  its  near  ally,  M.  griseus,  the  male  utters  a 
flight  song  in  the  nesting  season.  It  is  well  described  by  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  in  his  Report  on  Collections  made  in  Alaska,  p.  101. 

233.  Micropalama  hixuantopus  {Bonap.).  Stilt  Sandpiper. 
Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts  black,  bordered  with  grayish  and  buffy;  ear- 
coverts  and  an  indistinct  line  around  the  back  of  the  head  rufous ;  second- 
aries grayish,  edged  with  white  ;  primaries  fuscous  ;  rump  ashy  :  upper  tail- 
coverts  barred  with  black  and  white ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  broken  dusky 
bars,  inner  ones  with  central  streaks  or  margins  of  brownish  gray  or  white ; 
under  parts  white,  heavily  barred  with  fuscous.  Ad.  in  winter. — Upper  parts 
brownish  gray  ;  upper  tail-coverts  white  ;  tail  white,  margined  with  brownish 
gray  ;  under  parts  white ;  the  throat,  neck,  and  sides  indistinctly  streaked  or 
washed  with  grayish.  Im. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  the  upper  parts  black- 
ish, margined  with  ochraceous-buff.     L.,  8-25  ;  W.,  5-00 ;  Tar.,  1*60 ;  B.,  1-55. 

Remarks. — The  distinguishing  characters  of  this  species  are  the  flattened, 
pitted  tip  of  the  bill,  in  connection  with  the  very  long  tarsi. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  within  the  Arctic  Circle,  and 
wintering  as  far  south  as  South  America. 

Washington,  casual,  one  record.  Long  Island,  not  uncommon  T.  V.,  May ; 
July  to  Oct.  10. 

Eggs.^  three  to  four,  pale  grayish  buff,  or  grayish  buffy  white,  boldly  spotted 
with  rich  vandyke-brown  and  purplish  gray,  1-42  x  1-00  (Eidgw.). 

■  Colonel  N.  S.  Goss,  in  his  admirable  Birds  of  Kansas,  writes  that 
he  has  observed  this  species  along  the  edges  of  old  channels  of  rivers 
or  muddy  pools  of  water,  in  which  it  wades  while  feeding;  immersing 
the  head  and  feeling  with  its  sensitive  bill  in  the  thin  mud  for  food. 
It  moves  about  rather  slowly  as  compared  with  the  true  Sandpipers, 
and  at  times  will  try  and  avoid  detection  by  squatting  close  to  the 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,  ETC.  157 

ground,  flying  only  as  a  last  resort,  and  then  darting  swiftly  away 
with  a  sharp  tweet,  tweet. 

234.  Txdnga  canutus  Linn.  Knot;  Robin  Snipe;  Gray  Snipe. 
(See  Figs.  25, 6, 26,  h.)  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts  barred  and  streaked  with 
black  and  white  and  rufous ;  tail  ashy  gray,  narrowly  margined  with  whitish  ; 
under  parts  dull  rufous ;  lower  belly  white  or  whitish,  sides  sometimes  with 
black  bars.  (According  to  George  H.  Mackay,  it  requires  about  four  years 
for  birds  to  acquire  this  plumage.  See  Auk,  x,  1893,  p.  25.)  Im. — Upper  parts 
plain  brownish  gray;  upper  tail -coverts  barred  with  black  and  white,  tail 
brownish  gray  ;  breast  and  sides  barred  with  black,  belly  white.  Young.— 
Upper  parts  pale  brownish  gray  ;  head  streaked  with  blackish ;  back,  wing- 
coverts,  and  scapulars  with  distinct  black  and  white  borders ;  upper  tail-cov- 
erts barred  with  blackish ;  tail  ashy  gray,  narrowly  margined  with  white ; 
under  parts  white ;  breast  finely  streaked  or  spotted  with  blackish  ;  flanks 
barred  or  streaked  with  blackish.     L.,  10*50 ;  W,,  6*75 ;  Tar.,  1-20 ;  B.,  1-30. 

Bangs. — Northern  hemisphere,  breeding  within  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  in 
America  wintering  from  Florida  to  South  America. 

Long  Island,  not  uncommon  T.  V.,  May  15  to  June  10 ;  July  15  to  Nov. 

Eggs^  known  from  only  one  specimen  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Conger  by  General  Greely,  and  described  as  "  light  pea-green,  closely  spotted 
with  brown  in  small  specks  about  the  size  of  a  pinhead,"  1*10  x  1-00  (see 
Merriam,  Auk,  ii,  1885,  p.  313). 

Knots  feed  along  the  beaches  on  the  small  crustaceans  and  mol- 
Jusca  brought  in  by  the  waves,  and  they  also  frequent  muddy  places, 
where,  like  the  true  Snipe,  they  probe  the  ground  for  food.  They 
decoy  with  ease,  "  bunching  "  so  closely  as  they  wheel  into  the  stools 
that  the  entire  flock  is  sometimes  killed  by  a  single  discharge.  Mr. 
George  H.  Mackay,  in  one  of  his  careful  and  detailed  studies  of  our 
Shore  Birds,  describes  their  notes  as  a  soft  wah-guoif  and  a  little  honk. 
The  first  is  particularly  noticeable  when  flocks  are  coming  to  the  de- 
coys (see  Auk,  x,  1893,  pp.  25-35). 

235*  Tringa  maritima  Brunn.  Purple  Sandpiper.  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Upper  parts  black,  margined  with  ochraceous-buff  and  cream-buff; 
wings  fuscous-gray,  greater  coverts  margined  with  white  and  some  seconda- 
ries entirely  white ;  upper  tail-coverts /-mscows,  outer  tail-feathers  ashy  gray, 
inner  ones  fuscous ;  throat  and  breast  brownish  gray,  streaked  with  black ; 
belly  white,  sides  and  under  tail-coverts  streaked  with  brownish  gray.  Win- 
ter plumage. — Head,  neck,  breast,  and  sides  ashy,  the  two  latter  margined 
with  white  ;  back  fuscous,  margined  with  ashy ;  wings  fuscous,  the  coverts, 
secondaries,  and  tertials  distinctly  bordered  with  white ;  upper  tail-coverts 
and  middle  tail-feathers  black  or  fuscous,  outer  tail-feathers  ashy ;  belly  and 
linings  of  the  wings  white.    L.,  9-00  ;  W.,  5-00 ;  Tar.,  9-00 ;  B.,  1-40. 

Bemarhs. — The  brownish  gray  or  ashy  breast  of  this  species  is  a  good 
distinguishing  character. 

Bange. — "  Northern  portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere ;  in  North  Amer- 


158  SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 

ica  chiefly  in  the  northeastern  portion,  breeding  in  the  high  north,"  south  in 
winter  to  the  Great  Lakes  and  Long  Island,  and  casually  to  Florida. 

Long  Island,  uncommon  W.  V.,  Nov,  1  to  Mch.  1.  Cambridge,  casual,  one 
instance,  Oct. 

Eggs^  three  to  four,  olive  clay-color  or  brownish  ashy,  heavily  marked 
with  rufous-brown,  1-45  x  1-08. 

This  bird  might  be  called  Winter  Snipe  or  Rock  Snipe.  Indeed,  I 
find  the  latter  name  has  been  applied  to  it  from  its  habit  of  frequent- 
ing rocky  coasts,  where  it  secures  its  food  in  the  alg^  attached  to  rocks 
exposed  by  the  falling  tide. 

239.  Tringa;  maculata  Vieill.  Pectoral  Sandpiper;  Krieker. 
Ad.  ill  surmner. — Upper  parts  blaclv,  the  feathers  all  heavily  bordered  with 
pale  ochraceous-bufl';  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  hlach^  lightly  tipped  with 
ochraceous-buff ;  middle  tail-feathers  longest,  pointed  and  margined  with 
bufiy;  outer  tail-feathers  brownish  gray,  narrowly  margined  with  white; 
throat  white,  neck  and  breast  heavily  streaked  with  black  and  huffy ;  rest  of 
under  parts  white.  Winter  plumage. — Similar,  but  ochraceous-buff  of  upper 
parts  replaced  by  rufous,  and  breast  heavily  washed  with  huffy.  L.,  9.00  ;  W., 
5-40;  Tar.,  1-10;  B.,  1-15. 

Uemarhs. — This  bird  somewhat  resembles  both  T.fuscicoUis  and  T.  bairdii, 
but  it  differs  from  them  in  its  larger  size,  black  instead  of  white  or  fuscous 
upper  tail-coverts,  and  longer,  more  pointed  middle  tail-feathers. 

Bange. — North  America ;  breeds  in  the  arctic  regions  and  winters  in  the 
West  Indies  and  South  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  Aug.  to  Nov.  Long  Island,  T.  V., 
rare  in  spring,  common  from  July  15  to  Nov.  1.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Sept_ 
10  to  Oct.  16.     Cambridge,  irregular  and  uncommon  in  Sept.  and  Oct. 

Eggs.,  four,  drab,  sometimes  with  a  greenish  tinge,  blotched  with  clear 
amber-brown  markings,  more  numerous  at  the  larger  end,  1-50  x  1-09  (Mur- 
doch). 

The  names  Grass  Snipe  and  Krieker  describe  with  equal  truth  and 
conciseness  the  haunts  and  notes  of  this  Snipe.  It  frequents  wet, 
grassy  meadows  rather  than  beaches,  and,  although  it  flies  in  flocks, 
the  birds  scatter  while  feeding  and  take  wing  one  or  more  at  a  time. 
They  thus  remind  one  of  Wilson's  Snipe.  Their  note  is  a  squeaky, 
grating  whistle.  They  will  respond  to  an  imitation  of  it,  but  do  not 
decoy  so  readily  as  the  larger  Bay  Birds.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  writes  * 
that  during  the  breeding  season  the  male  inflates  its  breast  and  throat 
until  they  are  double  their  normal  size,  and  utters  a  deep,  hollow,  reso- 
nant note. 

240.  Tringa  fUscicollis    Vieill.     White-rtimped  Sandpiper.    Ad. 

in  .summer.— Upper  parts  black,  edsred  with  rufous ;  rump  grayish  fuscous, 
margined  with  ashy  ;  longer  upper  tail-coverts  white.,  with  sometimes  brownish- 

*  Rep.  on  Nat.  Hist.  Colls,  made  in  Alaska,  p.  108. 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC.  159 

gray  markings ;  central  tail-feathers  fuscous,  outer  ones  brownish  gray  ;  upper 
throat  white ;  neck,  breast,  and  sides  distinctly  streaked  and  spotted  with 
black  and  more  or  less  washed  with  ochraceous-buft".  Winter  plumage. — 
"  Upper  parts  plain  brownish  gray,  with  indistinct,  narrowed,  mesial  streaks 
of  dusky;  otherwise  as  in  summer,  but  streaks  on  chest,  etc.,  less  distinct" 
(Ridgw.).  Im. — Similar  to  summer  examples,  but  the  feathers  of  the  upper 
parts  with  rounded  whitish  or  ochraceous-buft'  tips;  breast  less  distinctly 
streaked.    L.,  7-50 ;  W.,  4-90 ;  Tar.,  -90 ;  B.,  -95. 

Eemarlcs. — The  white  upper  tail-coverts  distinguish  this  species. 

Bange. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  in  the  arctic  regions  and  win- 
tering as  far  south  as  the  Falkland  Islands. 

Long  Island,  not  uncommon  T.  V.,  July  20  to  Oct  10.  Sing  Sing,  casual 
T.  v.,  Sept. 

Eggs^i  three  to  four,  light  olive,  or  olive  brownish,  spotted  (usually  rather 
finely)  with  deep  brown  and  dull,  purplish  gray,  1-37  x  -94  (Eidgw.). 

"They  frequent  the  sandy  beach  as  well  as  the  marshy  shores 
upon  the  coast,  but  inland  seem  to  prefer  the  edges  of  pools  of 
water  upon  the  uplands.  They  move  in  small  flocks,  are  very  social, 
often  associating  with  other  waders,  are  not  as  a  rule  shy  or  timid, 
and,  when  startled,  usually  fly  but  a  short  distance,  drop  back,  and 
run  about  in  an  unconcerned  and  heedless  manner,  picking  up  the 
minute  forms  of  life  that  usually  abound  in  such  places,  occasionally 
uttering  a  rather  sharp,  piping  weet,  weet^  Their  flight  is  swift  and 
well  sustained  "  (Goss). 

241.  Tringabairdii(6'ot^e«).  Baikd's  Sandpiper.  Ad.  in  summer. — 
Upper  parts  fuscous  ;  feathers  of  the  crown  and  nape  margined  laterally  with 
pale  buffy ;  back  and  scapulars  tipped  with  pale  buft"y  or  brownish  gray ; 
middle  upper  tail-coverts /-msco-ws,  sometimes  tipped  with  buft'y  ;  central  tail- 
feathers  fuscous,  margined  with  whitish,  outer  ones  pale  brownish  gray  ;  throat 
white  ;  breast  washed  with  buft'y  and  ligMly  spotted  or  streaked  with  fuscous ; 
sides  and  belly  white.  Im. — Similar,  but  the  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-cov- 
erts with  rounded  white  tips.  (In  the  winter  these  tips  are  more  or  less  worn 
off".)    L.,  7-40 ;  W.,  4-90 ;  Tar.,  -90  ;  B.,  -85. 

Bemarks. — This  bird  most  closely  resembles  T.  fuscicollis.  In  any  plum- 
age it  may  be  known  from  that  species  by  the  fuscous  instead  of  white  middle 
upper  tail-coverts.  In  summer  it  difters  also  in  the  absence  of  rufous  above, 
the  less  heavily  spotted  throat,  and  the  white  instead  of  spotted  sides.  In 
winter  the  chief  distinguishing  marks  of  the  two  species,  aside  from  the  dif- 
ferently colored  upper  tail-coverts,  are  the  buft'y  breast  and  generally  paler 
upper  parts  of  bairdii. 

Bange. — Interior  of  North  America,  breeding  in  the  arctic  regions  and 
migrating  southward  to  South  America;  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Washington,  casual,  one  record.    Long  Island,  casual,  Aug. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  light,  creamy  buff,  sometimes  tinged  with  rusty, 
thickly  speckled  and  spotted  with  deep  reddish  brown  or  chestnut,  1*30  x  '93 
(Ridgw.). 


160 


SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 


"  In  habits  they  are  similar  to  the  White-rumped  (which  they  so 
closely  resemble),  but  are  more  inclined  to  wander  from  the  water's 
edge.  I  have  flushed  the  birds  on  high  prairie  lands,  at  least  a  mile 
from  the  water  "  (Gross). 

242.  Tringa  minutilla  Vieill.  Least  Sandpiper;  Meadow  Oxeye; 
Peep.  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts  black  or  fuscous,  edged  and  tipped 
with  buify  or  rufous ;  rump  and  middle  upper  tail-coverts  plain  black  or  fus- 
cous ;  central  tail-feathers  black  or  fuscous,  outer  ones  ashy  gray ;  upper  throat 

white ;  neck  and  breast  white  or  buffy, 
streaked  with  fuscous ;  belly  and  sides 
white.  Im. — Similar,  but  feathers  of 
the  back  with  rounded  rufous  or  buffy 
tips;  breast  not  distinctly  streaked. 
Winter  plumage. — Upper  parts  brown- 
ish gray,  sometimes  with  more  or  less 
black  in  the  centers  of  the  feathers ; 
breast  white  or  ashy,  not  distinctly 
streaked.  L.,  6-00;  W.,  3-50;  Tar., 
•70;  B., -75. 

Bemarhs. — This  is  the  smallest  of 
our  Sandpipers,  and  can  be  confused 


Fig.  62.— Least  Sandpiper. 
(Natural  size.) 


only  with  Ereunetes  pusillus,  from  which,  however,  it  may  always  be  distin- 
guished by  the  absence  of  webs  between  the  bases  of  the  toes. 

Range. — ^North  America,  breeding  in  the  arctic  regions  and  wintering  from 
the  Gulf  States  to  South  America. 

Washington,  uncommon  T.  V.,  May ;  Aug.  to  Oct.  Long  Island,  abun- 
dant T.  v.,  Apl.  25  through  May;  July  through  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably 
common  T.  V.,  May  9  to  May  22 ;  Oct.  3.  Cambridge,  very  common  T.  V., 
May  25  to  May  31 ;  July  20  to  Aug.  31. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  pale,  grayish  buffy,  varying  to  pale  brownish^  thickly 
spotted,  speckled,  or  sprinkled  with  deep  chestnut  and  dull,  purplish  gray, 
1-15  X  -83  (Eidgw.). 

This,  the  smallest  of  our  Sandpipers,  is  frequently  associated  with 
its  larger  cousin  the  Semipalmated  Sandpiper  on  the  shores  and 
beaches,  but  it  also  visits  the  grassy  meadows,  and  for  this  reason  is 
known  by  baymen  as  the  "  Meadow  Oxeye." 

243a.  Tringa  alpina  pacifica  ( (7o't^£5).  Eed-backed  Sandpipeb; 
Leadback.  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts  broadly  margined  with  rufous,  the 
centers  of  the  feathers  black,  wings  brownish  gray ;  breast  whitish,  lightly 
streaked  with  blackish  ;  middle  of  the  belly  with  a  large  hlacJc  patch.,  lower 
belly  white.  Im. — Upper  parts  blackish,  the  feathers  with  rounded  tips  of 
rufous  or  buffy;  breast  washed  with  buffy  and  indistinctly  streaked  with 
blackish  ;  belly  spotted  with  black.  Winter  plumage. — Upper  parts  brown- 
ish gray ;  middle  upper  tail-coverts  fuscous ;  wing-coverts  brownish  gray 
margined  with  buffy  ;  throat  white ;  breast  ashy,  indistinctly  streaked ;  belly 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 


161 


white,  the  sides  sometimes  spotted  with  black.  L.,  8-00  ;  W.,  4-75 ;  Tar.,  1*00 ; 
B.,  1-50. 

Bemarhs. — There  is,  of  course,  every  degree  of  intergradation  between 
summer  and  winter  plumage,  but  the  species  may  always  be  known  by  its 
slightly  curved  bill. 

Eange. — North  America,  breeding  in  the  arctic  regions  and  wintering  from 
Florida  southward ;  rare  in  the  interior. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  Oct.    Long  Island,  T.  V.,  uncommon  in 


Fig.  63.— Red-backed  Sandpiper.    (Natural  size.) 


spring,  Apl.  1  to  May  15 ;  common  in  fall,  Aug.  31  through  Oct.  Sing  Sing, 
tolerably  common  T.  V.  in  fall,  Oct.  3  to  Oct.  24.  Cambridge,  casual,  one 
instance,  Oct. 

Eggs,  three  to  four,  varying  from  pale,  bluish  white  to  ochraceous-buff, 
heavily  marked  with  chocolate,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  1-43  x  1*01. 

Generally  speaking,  this  is  a  shore  or  beach  bird,  though  it  also 
visits  grassy  marshes.  •  It  flies  and  feeds  in  flocks,  and  is  an  unsus- 
picious, rather  stupid  little  Snipe,  less  active  than  most  members  of 
this  family.  The  gray-plumaged  fall  birds  are  known  as  "  Leadbacks," 
while  in  the  spring  they  go  by  the  names  "  Blackbreast "  or  "  Redback." 


The  Dunlin"  {^4^.  Tringa  alpina)  is  the  Old- World  representative  of  our 
Eed-backed  Sandpiper,  from  which  it  difi"ers  only  in  being  less  brightly 
colored  and  somewhat  smaller.  L.,  about  7*40;  W.,  4-12-4-50;  Tar.,  -78-90; 
B.,  1-05-1-25.    It  is  of  casual  occurrence  in  North  America. 

The  Ctjblew  Sandpiper  {244-  Tringa  ferruginea)  inhabits  the  eastern 
hemisphere,  and  occurs  casually  in  eastern  North  America.  It  has  been  re- 
corded from  Ontario,  Nova  Scotia,  Maine,  Massachusetts,  and  Long  Island. 

246»  £reunetes  pusillus  {Linn.).  Semipalmated  Sandpiper  ;  Sand 
OxEYE  ;  Peep.  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts  black  or  fuscous,  margined  with 
brownish  gray  and  a  small  amount  of  rufous ;  rump  grayish  brown ;  upper 
tail-eoverts  blackish  ;  tail-feathers  brownish  gray,  central  ones  darkest ;  breast 
streaked  or  spotted  with  blackish.  Im. — Similar,  but  upper  parts  and  wing- 
coverts  blackish,  with  rounded  rufous  or  butfy  tips  to  the  feathers ;  breast  un- 
12 


162  SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 

streaked,  tinted  with  buffy.  Winter  plumage. — Upper  parts  brownish  gray, 
with  darker  shaft  streaks ;  upper  tail-coverts  darker ;  under  parts  white,  some- 
times with  faint  streaks  on  the  breast.    L.,  6-30 ;  W.,  3-75 ;  Tar.,  -75  ;  B.,  -GS-'SO. 

Remarhs. — The  small  size  of  this  and  the  next  species  prevents  their  be- 
ing confused  with  any  other  except  Tringa  minutilla^  from  which  they  may 
always  be  known  by  their  partially  webbed  toes. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  in  the  arctic  regions,  and  winters 
from  the  Gulf  States  southward  through  Brazil. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  May ;  Aug.  to  Oct.  Long  Island,  abundant  T.  V., 
May ;  July  through  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.  in  fall,  Aug.  14  to  Oct. 
20.     Cambridge,  very  common  in  Aug.  and  Sept. 

JSggs,  three  to  four,  pale,  dull  grayish  buff,  sprinkled,  speckled,  or  spotted 
with  dark  brown  and  purplish  gray,  1'21  x  -85  (Kidgw.). 

The  thought  of  these  little  Sandpipers  always  creates  a  mental  pic- 
ture of  a  long  stretch  of  dazzling  beach  with  its  ever-changing  surf- 
line.  I  hear  the  oft-repeated  booming  of  the  rolling,  tumbling  break- 
ers, and  in  the  distance  see  a  group  of  tiny  forms  hurrying  to  and  fro 
over  the  sand  smoothed  by  the  frothy  waves.  With  what  nimble  grace- 
fulness they  follow  the  receding  waves,  searching  for  treasures  cast  up 
by  the  sea !  What  contentment  and  good-fellowship  are  expressed  by 
their  cheery,  conversational  twitterings !  Up  and  down  the  beach  they 
run,  now  advancing,  now  retreating,  sometimes,  in  their  eagerness,  ven- 
turing too  far,  when  the  waters  threaten  to  ingulf  them,  and  in  momen- 
tary confusion  they  take  wing  and  hover  back  to  a  place  of  safety. 
Suddenly,  as  though  at  a  signal,  they  are  off ;  a  compact  flock  moving 
as  one  bird,  twisting  and  turning  to  right  and  left,  now  gleaming  white 
as  the  sun  strikes  their  snowy  bodies,  now  dark  again  like  a  wisp  of 
sunless  cloud  flying  before  the  wind. 

247.  Ereimetes  occidentaUs  Lawr.  Western  Semipalmated 
Sandpiper. — This  bird  closely  resembles  the  preceding,  from  which,  in  sum- 
mer plumage,  it  difiers  in  having  the  upper  parts  conspicuously  margined 
with  rufous  and  the  breast  more  heavily  streaked.  In  fall  and  winter  plum- 
age the  diiferences  in  coloration  are  not  so  apparent,  but  the  birds  are  to  be 
distinguished  at  any  season  by  the  size  of  the  bill,  which  in  the  western  spe- 
cies always  averages  longer.     W.,  3-80  ;  Tar.,  80  ;  B.,  •85-1-20. 

Range. — Western  North  America ;  breeds  in  the  arctic  regions,  and  win- 
ters from  the  Gulf  States  to  South  America;  occasional  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Long  Island,  uncommon  T.  V.,  occurring  with  K  pusillus. 

Eggs,  three  to  four,  deep  cinnamon  buffy,  sprinkled,  speckled,  or  thickly 
spotted  with  bright  rusty  brown  or  chestnut,  the  general  aspect  decidedly 
rusty,  1-24  X  -87  (Eidgw.). 

This  western  representative  of  the  preceding  species  is  sometimes 
found  on  our  coasts  associated  with  its  eastern  relative.  In  Florida, 
particularly  on  the  Gulf  coast,  it  occurs  in  numbers  during  the  winter. 


SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,  ETC.  163 

248.  Ca/lidris  airena>ria>  {Linn.).  Sanderling  ;  Sukf  Snipe.  Ad. 
in  summer. — Feathers  of  the  upper  parts  with  generally  black  centers,  bor- 
dered and  sometimes  barred  with  pale  rufous  and  tipped  with  ashy  white  ; 
wings  fuscous,  the  basal  half  of  the  outer  web  of  the  inner  primaries  white  ; 
wing-coverts  grayish  fuscous,  the  greater  one  broadly  tipped  with  white  ;  tail 
brownish  gray,  narrowly  margined  with  white;  throat  and  upper  breast 
washed  with  pale  rufous  and  spotted  with  blackish  ;  rest  of  the  under  parts 
fure  white.  Im.  in  fall. — Similar,  but  upper  parts  without  rufous,  glossy 
black,  the  feathers  sometimes  bordered  with  white,  but  generally  with  two 
white  spots  at  their  tips  separated  by  the  black  of  the  central  part  of  the 
feather ;  nape  grayish  white,  lightly  streaked  with  blackish ;  under  parts 
pure  white,  with  occasionally  a  few  spots  on  the  breast.  Winter  plumage. — 
Upper  parts  pale  brownish  gray,  wings  as  in  the  preceding  ;  under  parts ^wre 
white.     L.,  8-00 ;  W.,  6-00 ;  Tar.,  1-00  ;  B.,  1-00. 

Bemarhs. — The  Sanderling  is  the  only  one  of  our  Snipes  or  Sandpipers 
having  three  toes,  and  it  may  always  be  known  by  this  character  in  combi- 
nation with  its  booted  or  transversely  scaled  tarsi. 

Range. — " Nearly  cosmopolitan,  breeding  in  arctic  and  subarctic  regions; 
migrating,  in  America,  south  to  Chili  and  Patagonia"  (A.  0.  U.). 

Washington,  casual  T.  V.,  two  records.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  Mch. 
15  through  May ;  Aug.  1  through  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V., 
to  June  5 ;  Sept.  9  to  Oct.  5.     Cambridge,  casual,  one  instance,  Sept. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  light  olive-brown,  finely  spotted  or  speckled  with 
darker,  the  markings  larger  and  more  blended  on  the  larger  end,  1-41  x  -91 
(Eidgw.). 

This  is  a  true  beach  bird,  and  is  usually  found  on  shores  washed 
by  the  sea.  It  frequently  associates  with  the  Semipalmated  Sandpiper 
or  Oxeye,  which  it  resembles  in  habits,  but  its  larger  size  and  lighter 
colors  distinguish  it  from  that  species. 

249.  Liimosa  fedoa>  {Linn.).  Marbled  Godwit;  Brown  Marlin. 
Ad. — -Upper  parts  black,  the  head  and  neck  streaked  with  buffy,  the  back 
barred  or  the  feathers  spotted  on  the  sides  and  sometimes  tipped  with  buffy 
or  ochraceous-buff ;  inner  web  of  the  outer  primaries  and  both  webs  of  the 
inner  ones  ochraceous-buff  or  pale  buffy,  speckled  with  black ;  tail  ochraceous- 
buff  barred  with  black  ;  throat  white,  rest  of  the  under  parts  pale  buffy,  spotted 
or  barred  with  black ;  bill  curved  slightly  upward,  yellowish  at  the  base, 
black  at  the  end.  Im. — Similar,  but  the  under  parts  with  few  or  no  bars  except 
on  the  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts.      L.,  18-00 :  W.,  8*75  ;  Tar.,  2*75 ;  B.,  4-00. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  chiefly  in  the  interior,  from  western 
Minnesota,  and  rarely  Iowa  and  Nebraska,  northward,  and  migrating  south- 
ward to  Central  America  and  Cuba ;  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Long  Island,  rare  T.  V.,  Aug.  and  Sept. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  clay-color  or  brownish  ashy,  blotched,  spotted,  and 
scrawled  with  grayish  brown,  2*15  x  1'60. 

Colonel  Goss  writes  that  this  species  "  inhabits  the  salt-  and  fresh- 
water shores,  marshes,  and  moist  ground  upon  the  prairies.     It  feeds 


164  SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 

upon  Crustacea,  insects,  worms,  larvae,  etc.,  moving  about  in  a  horizontal 
position,  picking  and  probing  as  it  goes.  Its  flight  is  easy  and  well 
sustained,  though  not  very  rapid ;  in  alighting,  raises  the  wings  over 
the  back  as  it  touches  the  ground.  These  birds  as  a  rule  are  shy,  and 
keep  well  out  of  reach.  .  .  ." 

251.  Liimosa  hsemastica  {Linn.).  Hidsonian  God  wit;  Eing- 
TAiLED  Maklin.  Ad. — Upper  parts  black,  the  head  and  neck  streaked  and 
the  back  spotted  or  barred  with  ochraceous-buif ;  primaries  black  or  fuscous  ; 
upper  tail-coverts  white.,  the  lateral  ones  tipped  or  barred  with  black ;  tail 
hlaclc,  with  a  broad  base  and  a  narrow  tip  of  white  ;  throat  buff'y,  streaked  with 
blackish  ;  under  parts  chestnut-rufous,  barred  with  black  and  sometimes 
tipped  with  whitish  ;  axillars  hlacTc.     L.,  15-00  ;  W.,  8-25  ;  Tar.,  2-25 ;  B.,  3-20. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  in  the  arctic  regions  and  mi- 
grates southward,  chiefly  through  the  interior,  as  far  as  Patagonia. 

Long  Island,  rare  T.  V.,  Aug.  and  Sept. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  deep  olive,  hair-brown,  or  broccoli-brown  (sometimes 
paler),  usually  more  or  less  spotted  with  darker  brown,  but  sometimes  nearly 
uniform,  2-20  x  1-42  (Ridgw.). 

This  bird  resembles  the  preceding  in  habits,  and  like  it  is  rare  on 
the  Atlantic  coast. 

The  Black-tailed  Godwit  {252.  Limosa  limosa)  inhabits  the  northern 
parts  of  the  Old- World  and  is  of  accidental  occurrence  in  Greenland. 

254.  Totanus  melanoleucus  {Gmel.).  Greater  Yellow-legs. 
Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts  black,  the  head  and  neck  streaked  and  the 
back  spotted  or  barred  with  white  or  ashy ;  upper  tail-coverts  white,  more  or 
less  barred  with  black  :  tail  white  or  ashy,  barred  with  black  ;  breast  heavily 
spotted  with  black ;  sides  barred  with  black ;  middle  of  the  belly  white. 
Winter  plumage.— Similar,  but  upper  parts  brownish  gray,  edged  with  whit- 
ish •  sides  of  the  scapulars,  tcrtials,  and  wing-coverts  with  blackish  and 
whitish  spots ;  breast  only  lightly  streaked  with  blackish,  and  sides  slightly 
barred.    L.,  14-00  ;  W.,  7-70  ;  Tar.,  2-40  ;  B.,  2-20. 

Range.— ^orth  America ;  breeds  from  Minnesota  and  rarely  northern  Illi- 
nois and  Anticosti  northward  ;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Patagonia. 

Washington,  rather  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  and  May  ;  July  25  to  Nov.  Long 
Island,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  10  through  May;  July  15  through  Oct.  Sing 
Sing,  common  T.  V.,  to  June  5  ;— to  Oct.  28.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  Apl. 
15  to  May  25 ;  Sept.  and  Oct. 

I^ggs,  three  to  four,  brownish  buffy,  distinctly  but  very  irregularly  spotted 
with  rich  vandyke-  or  madder-brown,  1-43  x  1-20  (Ridgw.). 

It  needs  only  the  musical  notes  of  the  Yellow-leg  to  recall  memo- 
ries of  many  days  passed  along  the  shore  and  in  the  marshes.  Half 
reclining  in  my  blind,  I  see  in  fancy  the  staring  decoys,  pointing  like 
weathercocks  with  the  wind,  and  hear  the  dull  booming  of  surf  be- 
hind the  brown  sand  dunes. 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC.  165 

Few  birds  are  flying ;  lulled  by  the  lap,  lap  of  the  water,  I  have 
almost  fallen  asleep,  when  from  far  up  in  the  gray  sky  comes  a  soft, 
flutelike  whistle,  when,  wheu-wheu-wheu-wheu,  when,  wheu-wheu.  I  re- 
spond quickly,  and,  lying  on  my  back,  look  eagerly  upward.  Not  a 
bird  can  be  seen,  but  the  questioning  call  grows  stronger  and  is  re- 
peated more  frequently.  Finally  I  distinguish  five  or  six  black  points 
sailing  in  narrow  circles  so  high  that  I  can  scarcely  believe  they  are  the 
birds  I  hear.  But  no  bar  or  shoal  breaks  the  sound  waves.  The  birds 
grown  larger  and  on  widening  circles  sweep  earthward.  Their  soft 
whistle  has  a  plaintive  tone ;  their  long  bills  turn  inquiringly  from 
side  to  side.  The  stolid  decoys  give  no  response,  they  repel  rather 
than  encourage,  but  the  whistling  continues,  and  with  murmured 
notes  of  interrogation  the  deluded  birds  wheel  over  them,  to  find  too 
late  that  they  have  blundered. 

255.  Totanus  flavipes  ( Gmel.).  Yellow-legs  ;  Stimmek  Yellow- 
legs.  Ad.  in  summer. —  L-pper  parts  generally  brownish  gray,  the  head  and 
neck  streaked  with  black  and  white,  the  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts 
with  sometimes  black  centers,  spotted  or  tipped  with  whitish  or  brownish 
gray  ;  upper  tail-coverts  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  black,  tail  varying 
from  white  to  brownish  gray,  with  numerous  black  or  blackish  cross-bars ; 
breast  heavily  spotted  or  streaked  and  sides  barred  with  black ;  belly  white, 
legs  yellow.  Winter  plumage.— Similar,  but  upper  parts  brownish  gray,  the 
sides  of  the  feathers  with  whitish  spots ;  tail-bars  grayish  ;  breast  lightly 
streaked  with  ashy.    L.,  10-75 ;  W.,  6-40  ;  Tar.,  2-05 ;  B.,  1-40. 

Remarks. — This  bird  closely  resembles  the  Greater  Yellow-legs  in  color, 
but  may  always  be  distinguished  by  its  smaller  size. 

Hange.— North  America,  breeding  chiefly  in  the  interior  from  Minnesota, 
northern  Illinois,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  northward  to  the  arctic  regions; 
winters  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Patagonia. 

Washington,  rather  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  to  May  15 ;  Aug.  to  Nov.  Long 
Island,  T.  V.,  very  rare  in  spring,  abundant  in  fall ;  July  15  to  Oct.  1.  Sing 
Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.  in  fall ;  Aug.  25  to  Oct.  5.  Cambridge,  rare  in 
May ;  sometimes  common  in  Aug.  and  early  Sept. 

I^gffs,  three  to  four,  buffy  (variable  as  to  shade),  distinctly  (sometimes 
broadly)  spotted  or  blotched  with  dark  madder-  or  vandyke-brown  and  pur- 
plish gray,  1-69  x  1-15  (Eidgw.). 

This  species  closely  resembles  the  preceding  in  notes,  habits,  and 
choice  of  haunts.  It  decoys,  however,  more  easily,  and,  generally 
speaking,  is  more  common. 

The  Green-shank  (S5S.  Totanus  nehularius)  is  an  Old-World  species,  of 
which  three  specimens  were  taken  by  Audubon,  May  28,  1832,  near  Cape 
Sable,  Florida.  It  resembles  our  Greater  Yellow-legs,  but  differs  chiefly  in 
naving  the  lower  back  and  rump  white. 

The  Gkeen  Sandpipek  {257.  Totanus  ochropus)  is  an  Old- World  species 
which  has  been  recorded  once  from  Nova  Scotia.    It  resembles  our  Solitary 


166 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC. 


Sandpiper,  but  is  larger   (W.,  5-75),  and  has  the  upper  tail-coverts  pure 
white. 

256.  Totanus  solitax*ius  (  yVils.).  Solitary  Sandpiper.  Ad.  in 
summer. — Upper  parts  olive-fuscous,  with  a  slight  greenish  tinge,  the  head 
and  neck  streaked  and  the  back  spotted  with  white ;  upper  tail-coverts  fus- 
cous, with  fine  whitish  spots  on  their  sides,  the  lateral  ones  sometimes  barred ; 
central  pair  of  tail-feathers  fuscous,  the  others  white,  barred  with  black  \ 


Fig.  64.— Inner  view  of  wing  of  Solitary  Sandpiper,  showing  barred  axillars. 

breast  streaked,  and  sides  sometimes  barred  with  black  ;  belly  white  ;  axillars 
barred  with  black  and  white  ;  legs  greenish  fuscous.  Winter  plumage. — Simi- 
lar, but  upper  parts  grayish  brown  ;  head  and  neck  generally  unstreaked,  and 
the  back  only  lightly  spotted  with  buffy  white ;  breast  streaked  with  brown- 
ish gray.     L.,  8-40  ;  W.,  5-25 ;  Tar.,  1-20 ;  B.,  1-15. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  locally  and  rarely  from  northern 
Illinois,  western  Pennsylvania,  and  Maine  northward ;  winters  in  South 
America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  to  May  25;  July  25  to  Nov.  Long 
Island,  common  T.  V.,  May;  July  15  to  Oct.  1.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V., 
May  3  to  30 ;  Aug.  27  to  Oct  2.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  May  15  to  25 ; 
July  20  to  Oct. 

Eggs.,  known  from  only  one  example  taken  by  Jenness  Richardson,  near 
Lake  Bombazine,  Vermont,  May  28,  1878,  and  described  by  Dr.  Brewer  as 
light  drab,  with  small,  rounded,  brown  markings,  some  quite  dark,  nowhere 
confluent,  and  at  the  larger  end  a  few  faint  purplish  shell-marks,  1-39  x  -95. 

This  is  a  wood  Sandpiper.  It  is  rarely  found  on  the  beaches  or  salt 
marshes  near  the  sea,  but  frequents  fresh-water  ponds,  or  lakes  and 
woodland  streams,  both  in  the  lowlands  and  mountains.  It  is  gener- 
erally  observed  during  the  migrations,  and  although  it  occasionally 
breeds  in  the  Middle  States  its  skill  in  concealing  its  nest  has  defied 
the  search  of  oologists.  It  is  a  quieter,  more  dignified  bird  than  the 
Spotted  Sandpiper,  and  as  a  rule  only  utters  its  "  low,  whistling  notes  " 
when  flushed. 

258.  Symphemia  semipalmata  {Gmel.).  Willet.  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  the  head  and  neck  streaked,  and  the  back 
barred  with  black,  and  sometimes  buffy,  the  centers  of  the  feathers  being  oc- 
casionally wholly  black  ;  basal  half  of  the  primaries  and  greater  part  of  sec- 
ondaries white ;  upper  tail-coverts  white  with  a  few  blackish  bars ;  central 
tail-feathers  ashy,  indistinctly  barred  with  blackish  ;  outer  ones  whitish,  lightly 


SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,  ETC.  1^7 

mottled  with  grayish ;  foreneck  heavily  streaked ;  breast  and  sides  heavily 
barred  with  dark  brownish  gray  and  more  or  less  washed  with  bufFy ;  belly 
generally  white,  with  sometimes  a  few  bars.  Winter  plumage. — Upper  parts 
brownish  gray,  unmarked ;  tail  without  bars  ;  rump  and  wings  as  in  the  adult  • 
breast  washed  with  grayish  ;  belly  white ;  axillars  black.  L.,  15-00  •  W..  8*00  • 
Tar.,  2-30;  B.,  2-15. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  Florida  to  southern  New 
Jersey,  and  locally  and  rarely  to  Maine. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  Aug.  Long  Island,  T.  V.,  rare  in  May;  uncom- 
mon in  Aug.  and  Sept.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Eggs,  three  to  four,  clay-color  or  buffy,  thickly  spotted  with  chocolate, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  2*10  x  1-55. 

Willets  frequent  both  fresh-  and  salt-water  marshes,  shores,  and 
beaches.  If  you  visit  their  haunts  during  the  nesting  season,  on  flut- 
tering wings  they  will  hover  above  your  head  or  fly  low  over  the 
marsh  to  draw  you  away  from  their  home,  uttering,  with  scarce  a  mo- 
ment's cessation,  their  loudly  whistled  call  of  pilly-will-willet,  pilly- 
will-willet.  All  day  long,  and  even  at  night,  I  have  heard  them  repeat 
these  notes  until,  wearied  by  their  persistence,  one  is  thankful  to  leave 
them  in  undisturbed  possession  of  the  ground. 

258a.  S.  s.  inomata  JBrewst.  Western  Willet.— Slightly  larger 
than  the  preceding,  and,  in  summer  plumage,  the  upper  parts  are  paler  and 
less  heavily  marked  with  black ;  the  breast  is  less  heavily  streaked  and  more 
suffused  with  buffy,  and  the  middle  tail-feathers  are  without  black  bars.  In 
winter  plumage  the  two  forms  can  be  distinguished  only  by  the  slight  and 
inconstant  character  of  size.     W.,  8-50 ;  Tar.,  2*50 ;  B.,  2-40. 

Range. — Western  United  States,  breeding  from  Texas  to  Manitoba;  win- 
ters on  the  Gulf  coast  from  Florida  to  Texas. 

The  EuFF  (260.  Pavoncella  pugnax)  is  an  Old-World  species  which  occa- 
sionally wanders  to  eastern  North  America.  It  has  been  taken  in  Maine, 
Massachusetts,  Ontario,  Ohio,  Long  Island,  and  New  Jersey.  The  adult  male 
may  be  known  by  its  enlarged  ruff,  which  varies  in  color  from  black,  chest- 
nut, and  rufous  to  buffy  and  whitish.  The  female  is  without  a  ruff",  and  is 
otherwise  very  different  from  the  male.  The  upper  parts  are  grayish  brown, 
the  back,  scapulars,  and  tertials  are  broadly  barred  with  black,  the  outer 
tail-feathers  are  ashy,  the  inner  ones  are  barred  with  buffy  and  black,  the 
breast  is  ashy,  with  concealed  black  bars,  the  belly  is  white.  In  winter  the 
upper  parts  are  light  grayish  brown  with  few  or  no  bars,  $  L.,  12-50 ;  W., 
7-50;  Tar.,  1-90;  B.,  1-50.      9  L.,  10-00  ;  W.,  6-00;  Tar.,  1-40;  B.,  1-15. 

S61.  Bartramia  lon^cauda  (BecJist.).  Bartramian  Sandpiper  ; 
Upland  Plover  ;  Field  Plover.  Ad. — Head  and  neck  streaked  with  black 
and  ochraceous-buff ;  back  and  wing-coverts  ochraceous-buff',  barred  with 
black ;  tertials  olive,  barred  with  black  and  margined  with  ochraceous-buff; 
primaries  fuscous,  the  outer  one  larred  with  white  ;  inner  tail-feathers  brown- 
ish gray,  outer  ones  varying  from  ochraceous-buff  to  white,  all  more  or  less 


168  SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,  ETC. 

barred  with  black  ;  breast  and  sides  washed  with  buflfy  and  streaked  or  barred 
with  black ;  belly  white  or  whitish.  Im. — Similar,  but  the  ochraceous-buff 
is  deeper.     L.,  11-50  ;  W.,  6-50  ;  Tar.,  1-90  ;  B.,  ri5. 

Remarhs. — The  white  bars  on  the  outer  primary  will  always  serve  to  iden- 
tify this  species. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  locally  from  Kansas  and  Vir- 
ginia to  Alaska  and  Nova  Scotia ;  winters  over  most  of  South  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  Aug.  to  Sept.  Long  Island,  uncommon 
S.  K.,  Apl.  to  Sept.  Cambridge,  not  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  25  to  May  5 ;  July 
30  to  Sept.  15. 

Eggs^  four  to  live,  creamy  buff  or  white,  spotted  with  reddish  brown  or 
chocolate,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  1*80  x  1-30. 

The  Upland  "  Plover  "  is  at  home  on  grassy  plains  and  pastures. 
It  is  usually  a  shy  bird,  and  can  rarely  be  successfully  approached  on 
foot.  It  shows  no  fear,  however,  of  a  man  who  is  riding  or  driving, 
and  when  on  horseback  I  have  passed  within  a  few  yards  of  birds 
which  regarded  me  with  some  interest  but  no  alarm.  They  so  closely 
resemble  dried  grass  in  color  that  it  is  sometimes  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult to  distinguish  them  from  their  surroundings.  One  may  ride  over 
a  prairie  upon  which,  at  first  glance,  not  a  Plover  is  visible,  and  find, 
after  careful  scrutiny,  that  dozens  of  birds  are  scattered  about  him 
feeding. 

In  alighting  they  stretch  their  wings  to  the  utmost,  high  over  their 
backs,  as  if  to  get  the  wrinkles  out  before  gently  folding  them.  When 
flushed  they  utter  a  soft,  bubbling  whistle.  During  their  migra- 
tions one  may  clearly  hear  these  sweet  notes  from  birds  traveling  be- 
yond the  limits  of  human  vision.  Mr.  Langille  describes  their  alarm 
note  as  a  spirited  and  rapidly  uttered  quip-ip-ip-ip,  quip-ip-ip-ip,  and 
their  song,  given  from  the  ground,  a  fence,  or  even  a  tree,  as  chr-r-r-r-r- 
ee-e-e-e-e-e-oo-o-o-o-o-oo.  He  remarks :  "  This  prolonged,  mournful,  mel- 
low whistle,  more  like  the  whistling  of  wind  than  a  bird's  voice,  may 
be  heard  even  in  the  night,  and  is  one  of  the  most  weird  and  never-to- 
be-forgotten  sounds  in  Nature." 

262.  Tryngites  subruficollis  (  Vieill.).  Buff-breasted  Sand- 
piper. Ad. — Upper  parts  pale  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with  olive  cen- 
ters ;  primaries  fuscous,  the  inner  half  of  their  inner  webs  spechled  with  hlacTc  ; 
longer  inner  wing-coverts  conspicuously  marked  and  tipped  with  black,  then 
white;  central  tail-feathers  fuscous,  outer  ones  becoming  buffy,  irregularly 
marked  and  tipped  with  black  and  buffy;  under  parts  pale  ochraceous-buff, 
tipped  with  whitish,  and  with  generally  concealed  black  markings.  Im. — 
Similar,  but  the  upper  parts  and  breast  paler.     L.,  8-50  ;  W.,  5-25 ;  B.,  -80. 

Remarhs. — In  any  plumage  this  bird  may  be  known  by  the  peculiar  speck- 
ling on  the  inner  webs  of  all  the  primaries,  and  also  the  markings  of  the  under 
wing-coverts. 

Range. — "  North  America,  especially  in  the  interior ;  breeds  in  the  Yukon 


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SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,   ETC.  169 

district  and  interior  of  British  America ;  northward  to  the  arctic  coast ;  South 
America  in  winter;  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Europe"  (A.  0.  U.). 

Long  Island,  rare  T.  V.,  Aug.  and  Sept. 

£^ggs,  three  to  four,  buffy  grayish  white,  varying  to  pale  olive-buff,  boldly 
spotted  longitudinally  (and  somewhat  spirally)  with  dark  vandyke-  or  mad- 
der-brown and  purplish  gray,  1-53  x  1-04  (Ridgw.). 

This  is  a  rare  species  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  Dr.  Hatch  writes  of 
it  as  observed  by  him  in  Minnesota :  "  They  are  an  extremely  active 
species  when  on  the  wing,  and  essentially  ploverine  in  all  respects, 
seeking  sandy,  barren  prairies,  where  they  live  upon  grasshoppers, 
crickets,  and  insects  generally,  and  ants  and  their  eggs  specially.  I 
have  found  them  repasting  upon  minute  mollusks  on  the  sandy  shores 
of  small  and  shallow  ponds,  where  they  were  apparently  little  more 
suspicious  than  the  Solitary  Sandpipers  are  notably.  The  flight  is  in 
rather  compact  form,  dipping  and  rising  alternately,  and  with  a  dis- 
position to  return  again  to  the  neighborhood  of  their  former  feeding 
places." 

263*  Actitis  ina<cula;ria<  (Linn.).  •  Spotted  Sandpiper.  Ad.  in  sum- 
mer.— Upper  parts  brownish  gray  with  a  faint  greenish  luster,  the  head  and 
neck  more  or  less  streaked,  and  the  back  barred  or  spotted  with  black  ;  inner 
tail-feathers  like  the  back,  outer  ones  with  blackish  bars ;  under  parts  white, 
everywhere  spotted  with  black.  Im. — Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  with  a 
greenish  tinge,  the  back  faintly  and  wing-coverts  conspicuously  barred  with 
black  and  buffy  ;  under  parts  pure  white,  unspotted,  but  slightly  washed  with 
grayish  on  the  breast.  Winter  plumage. — Similar,  but  back  Irowner  and 
without  bars.    L.,  7*50 ;  W.,  4-20  ;  Tar.,  -90  ;  B.,  -95. 

Range. — North  America  north  to  Hudson  Bay;  breeds  throughout  its 
range ;  winters  southward  to  Brazil. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  not  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  5  to  Sept.  30.  Long 
Island,  abundant  S.  K.,  Apl.  25  to  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  29  to 
Oct.^  23.     Cambridge,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  26  to  Sept. 

Eggs.^  four,  creamy  buff  or  white,  thickly  spotted  and  speckled  with  choco- 
late, chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  1'25  x  '95. 

Few  Shore  Birds  are  more  generally  known  than  this  widely  dis- 
tributed little  Sandpiper.  It  frequents  the  margins  of  bodies  of  both 
fresh  and  salt  water,  but  is  more  common  inland  on  the  shores  of  our 
rivers,  ponds,  and  lakes.  During  the  summer  it  is  practically  our  only 
fresh-water  Sandpiper,  and  is  familiar  to  most  of  us  under  its  common 
names.  It  runs  rapidly  along  the  beach,  then  pausing  bobs,  bows,  and 
"  teters "  in  a  most  energetic  manner.  When  flushed  it  takes  wing 
with  a  sharp  weet-weet  weet-weet,  and  after  a  few  wing-strokes  scales 
over  the  water  to  the  beach  beyond.  It  apparently  dislikes  to  go  be- 
yond certain  limits,  and  after  several  flights  makes  a  wide  circle  and 
returtis  to  the  starting  point. 


170  SNIPES,   SANDPIPERS,  ETC. 

* 

264.  Numenius  longirostris  Wils.  Long  -  billed  Cttelew  ; 
Sickle-bill.  Ad. — Head  and  neck  streaked,  and  back  barred  with  buffy 
and  black ;  wing-coverts,  inner  webs  of  primaries,  secondaries,  and  tail  vary- 
ing from  buS'y  to  pale  rufous,  barred  or  mottled  with  blackish ;  under  parts 
ochraceous-buff,  breast  more  or  less  streaked  and  sides  sometimes  barred 
with  black ;  axillars  rufous,  generally  unbarred.  L.,  24-00 ;  W.,  10-50 ;  Tar., 
3-10;  B.,  6-00. 

Range. — United  States,  breeding  in  the  interior  as  far  north  as  Manitoba 
and  on  the  xVtlantic  coast  to  North  Carolina ;  casual  northward  to  New  Eng- 
land ;  winters  from  Florida  and  Texas  southward  to  the  West  Indies. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  T.  V,  Long  Island,  casual  from  July  to 
Sept.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Eggs^  three  to  four,  olive  clay-color  or  brownish  ashy,  spotted  or  blotched 
with  chocolate,  2-58  x  1-85. 

"  These  birds,  as  a  rule,  inhabit  the  muddy  shores  and  moist  grassy- 
flats  and  plains,  but  often  frequent  and  breed  upon  the  uplands  re- 
mote from  water.  Their  food  consists  of  worms,  crickets,  beetles, 
grasshoppers,  small  snails,  crabs,  and  crawfish ;  the  latter  they  reach 
for  with  their  long  bills  and  pull  them  out  of  their  holes ;  and  I  have 
seen  them  probe  for  and  unearth  the  larvae  of  the  beetles  and  other 
forms  of  life  that  in  the  spring  come  to  or  near  the  surface  prepara- 
tory to  transformation.  While  feeding  they  move  about  with  an  easy 
carriage. 

"  Their  flight  is  not  rapid  but  well  sustained,  with  regular  strokes 
of  the  wings,  and  when  going  a  distance  usually  high  and  in  a  trian- 
gular form,  uttering  now  and  then  their  loud,  prolonged  whistling 
note,  so  often  heard  during  the  breeding  season ;  before  alighting,  sud- 
denly drop  nearly  to  the  ground,  then  gather,  and  with  a  rising  sweep 
gracefully  alight "  (Goss). 

265.  Numenius  hudsonicus  Lath.  Hudsonian  Curlew  ;  Jack 
Curlew.  Ad. — Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  the  sides  of  the  feathers  with 
whitish  spots ;  rump  and  tail  barred  with  bufiy  and  blackish  ;  inner  web  of 
outer  primaries  and  both  webs  of  inner  ones  barred  with  huffy  or  whitish  and 
black;  under  parts  butf'y  or  whitish,  the  neck  and  breast  streaked  and  the 
sides  and  under  wing-coverts  barred  with  black.  L.,  17-00 ;  W.,  9-50 ;  Tar., 
2-20;  B.,  3-75. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  arctic  regions  and  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  to 
Patagonia. 

Long  Island,  T.  V.,  rare  from  May  20  to  30 ;  common  from  July  to  Oct.  1. 

Eggs^  three  to  four,  pale  olive,  spotted  with  dull  brown,  2-27  x  1-57 
(Eidgw.). 

This  is  a  much  commoner  bird  on  our  coasts  than  the  preceding, 
which  it  resembles  in  habits  but  not  in  notes. 

266.  Numenius  borealis  (Forst.).  Eskimo  Curlew;  Fute; 
Dough-bird.    Ad. — Upper  parts  black,  margined  and  tipped  with  huffy  or 


PLOVERS.  171 

whitish  ;  upper  tail-coverts  barred  with  buffy  and  black  ;  tail  brownish  gray, 
edged  with  butfy  and  barred  with  black ;  primaries  fuscous  without  bars ; 
under  parts  buffy  or  whitish,  the  breast  streaked,  the  sides  and  under  wing- 
coverts  barred  with  black      L.,  13-50  ;  W.,  8-40  ;  Tar.,  1-75  ;  B.,  2-40. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  arctic  regions  and  migrates  southward,  chiefly 
through  the  interior,  to  Patagonia. 

Long  Island,  rare  T.  V.,  Sept. 

Eggs^i  three  to  four,  pale  olive-greenish,  olive,  or  olive-brownish,  dis- 
tinctly spotted,  chiefly  on  the  larger  end,  with  deep  or  dark  brown,  2-04  x  1-43 
(Ridgw.). 

This  Curlew  is  far  more  common  in  the  interior  than  on  the  At- 
lantic coast.  It  is  more  of  a  field  bird  than  either  of  the  two  pre- 
ceding species,  and  frequents  the  dry  uplands  to  feed  on  seeds  and 
insects.  Mr.  G.  H.  Mackay,  in  his  biography  of  this  species,*  writes  ; 
"  Most  of  their  habits  closely  resemble  those  of  the  Golden  Plover. 
In  migration  they  fly  in  much  the  same  manner,  with  extended  and 
broadside  and  triangular  lines  and  clusters  similar  to  those  of  Ducks 
and  Geese  at  such  times.  They  usually  fly  low  after  landing,  sweeping 
slowly  over  the  ground,  apparently  looking  it  over,  generally  standing 
motionless  for  quite  a  while  after  alighting,  which,  owing  to  their 
general  color  approximating  so  closely  to  the  withered  grass,  renders 
it  difficult  at  times  to  perceive  them.  .  .  .  The  only  note  I  ever  heard 
them  make  is  a  kind  of  squeak,  very  much  like  one  of  the  cries  of 
Wilson's  Tern  {Sterna  hirundo),  only  finer  in  tone." 

The  Whimbrel  {267.  Numenius  phceopus).,  an  Old-World  species,  is  of 
accidental  occurrence  in  Greenland. 

Family  Charadrhd^.  Plovers. 

The  one  hundred  species  contained  in  this  family  are,  as  a  whole,  of 
less  boreal  distribution  than  the  Snipes,  and  during  the  nesting  season 
are  distributed  throughout  the  world.  Only  eight  species  are  found 
in  North  America.  Their  habits  in  a  general  way  resemble  those  of 
the  true  Snipes,  but  their  much  shorter,  stouter  bills  are  not  fitted  for 
probing,  and  they  obtain  their  food  from  the  surface.  Probably  for 
this  reason  several  species  are  as  frequently  found  on  the  uplands  as 
near  the  shores. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Toes  three. 

A:  Back  spotted  or  streaked  with  black  and  white,  rufous,  or  golden  yellow. 

272.  Am.  Golden  Flovek. 
B.  Back  ashy,  gray,  brown,  or  brownish  gray. 

a.  Eump  rufous 273.  Killdeer. 

b.  Eump  not  rufous. 


*  The  Auk,  vol.  ix,  1892,  pp.  16-21. 


172  PLOVERS. 

bh  Bill  over  -50. 
b^.  A  black  or  brownish  band  on  the  breast .    280.  Wilson's  Plover. 
b^.  No  band  on  the  breast ;  back  grayish  brown,  margined  with  rufous. 

281.  Mountain  Plover. 
cK  Bill  under  -50. 
c".  A  black  line  from  the  eye  to  the  bill. 

274.  Semii-almated  Plover. 
c».  No  line  from  the  eye  to  the  bill. 

277.  Piping  Plover.     277a.  Belted  Piping  Plover. 
II.  Toes  four 270.  Black-bellied  Plover. 

The  Lapwing  {S69.  Vanellus  vanellus)  is  an  Old- World  species  of  acci- 
dental occurrence  in  America.  The  only  record  for  eastern  North  America 
south  of  Greenland  is  based  on  a  specimen  shot  at  Merrick,  L.  I.,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1883  (Dutcher,  Auk,  iii,  1886,  p.  438 j. 

270.  Charadrius  squatarola  (Linn.).    Black-bellied  Plover; 

Beetle-head.  (See  Fig.  25,  c,  26,  d.)  Ad.  in  summer. — Upper  parts  black, 
bordered  with  white ;  tail  white,  barred  with  black ;  basal  half  of  the  inner 
web  of  the  primaries  white ;  sides  of  the  head  and  neck  and  entire  under  parts, 
except  the  white  lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts,  black.  Im. — Upper  parts 
black,  the  head  and  neck  streaked,  the  back  spotted  with  buft'y  yellow ;  tail 
and  wings  as  in  the  adult ;  under  parts  white,  the  breast  and  sides  streaked 
with  brownish  gray.  Winter  plumage. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  upper 
parts  brownish  gray,  lightly  margined  with  whitish.  L.,  11-00 ;  W.,  7'50 ; 
Tar.,  1-90 ;  B.,  1-10. 

Eemarlcs. — The  rounded  scales  on  the  front  of  the  tarsus  and  the  presence 
of  a  fourth,  although  very  small,  toe  distinguish  this  bird. 

Range. — Nearly  cosmopolitan ;  breeds  in  the  arctic  regions,  and  in  Amer- 
ica winters  from  Florida  to  Brazil. 

Long  Island,  common  T.  V.,  May  5  to  June  5 ;  Aug.  1  to  Oct.  15.  Sing 
Sing,  a'.  V. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  light  buffy  olive,  spotted  and  speckled  with  dark 
brown  and  brownish  black  or  deep  black,  2-04  x  1-43  (Eidgw.). 

The  following  notes  are  abridged  from  Mr.  Mackay's  extended  ac- 
count of  the  habits  of  this  species  (Auk,  ix,  1892,  pp.  143-152).  They 
are  in  a  great  degree  tide  birds,  and  seek  a  large  part  of  their  food  on 
sand-flats  left  by  the  receding  water.  As  the  tide  rises  they  resort  to 
adjoining  marshes  or  uplands,  beaches,  or  the  exposed  crests  of  sand- 
bars. In  migrating  they  fly  in  lines  and  also  in  ranks,  like  Ducks  and 
Greese.  When  on  the  ground  they  usually  run  very  fast  for  four  or  five 
yards,  then  stop,  elevate  the  head,  and  look  around.  They  strike  at 
the  object  they  are  going  to  pick  up  and  eat  with  a  very  quick  motion. 
They  have  two  calls  :  one  of  several  notes,  with  the  accent  on  the  sec- 
ond one,  is  mellow,  clear,  and  far  reaching ;  the  other  is  low,  and  is 
uttered  when  they  are  at  ease  and  contented. 


PLOVERS.  1Y3 

272*  Charadrius  dominicus  Mull.  American  Golden  Plover; 
Greenback.  Ad.  in  sunutucr. —  Upper  parts  black,  spotted  and  margined 
with  golden  yellow  ;  tail  brownish  gray,  indistinctly  barred  with  whitish ; 
sides  of  the  breast  white  ;  rest  of  the  under  parts,  including  sides  of  the  head, 
black;  under  wing-coverts  ashy.  Winter  plumage. — Upper  parts  and  tail 
fuscous,  spotted  or  barred  with  whitish  or  yellow ;  under  parts  whitish,  more 
or  less  streaked  or  barred  with  brownish  gray.  L.,  10-50 ;  W.,  7'00 ;  Tar., 
1-60 ;  B.,  -90. 

Remarks. — Immature  birds  are  sometimes  confused  with  those  of  the  Black- 
bellied  Plover,  but,  aside  from  differences  of  size  and  color,  the  absence  of  the 
fourth  toe  in  the  present  species  will  always  distinguish  it. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  arctic  regions ;  winters  from  Florida  to  Patagonia. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  T.  V.  Long  Island,  T.  V.,  very  rare  in 
May;  common  from  Aug.  15  to  Nov.  10. 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  ochraceous-buft'  or  buffy  white,  heavily  marked  with 
chocolate,  1-85  x  1*28. 

Golden  Plovers  frequent  marshes,  sandy  hills,  old  fields,  sand-flats 
exposed  by  the  falling  tide,  plowed  fields,  and  burned  tracts  which  are 
free  of  trees  and  bushes.  When  on  the  ground  they  run  rapidly  and 
gracefully,  and  after  alighting  soon  scatter.  All  their  movements  are 
quick,  and  after  running  a  few  yards  they  suddenly  stop,  hold  their 
head  erect,  and  look  about  them.  In  feeding  they  seem  to  strike  at 
an  object  with  a  motion  that  reminds  one  of  a  Loon  or  Grebe  begin- 
ning to  dive. 

When  a  flock  is  approaching  decoys,  every  bird  seems  to  be  whis- 
tling, uttering  a  note  like  coodle,  coodle,  coodle.  Unlike  the  Black- 
bellied  Plover,  the  young  birds  are  wary  and  more  diflBcult  to  decoy 
than  the  old  ones.  When  driven  from  a  favorite  restmg  or  feeding 
ground  they  generally  return  in  a  short  time.  (Abridged  from  Mr. 
George  H.  Mackay's  account  of  the  habits  of  this  species  in  The  Auk, 
viii,  1891,  pp.  17-24.) 

The  European  Golden  Plover  (371.  Charadrius  apricarius)  occurs  in 
eastern  Greenland.  It  resembles  our  species,  but  has  the  under  wing-coverts 
white  instead  of  gray. 

273*  .£gialitis  VOCifera  (Linn.).  Killdeer.  Jid. — Forehead,  a 
spot  behind  the  eye,  throat,  and  a  ring  around  the  neck,  a  .band  on  the  breast, 
lower  breast,  and  belly  white  ;  front  of  the  crown,  lores,  a  ring  around  the 
neck,  and  a  band  on  the  breast  black  ;  crown  and  back  grayish  brown  tipped 
with  rufous ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  rufous  ;  inner  tail-feathers  grayish 
brown,  outer  ones  becoming  rufous  and  white,  all  tipped  with  black  and  white. 
L.,  10-50;  W.,  6-50;  Tar.,  1-35;  B.,  -75. 

Range. — North  America  north  to  Newfoundland  and  Manitoba,  breeding 
throughout  its  range ;  winters  from  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley  and  Vir- 
ginia to  northern  South  America. 


174 


PLOVERS. 


Washiugton,  P.  E.,  most  abundant  in  migrations.  Long  Island,  not  com 
mon  T.  v.,  recorded  in  every  month  but  Jan.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.  in  fall 
Sept.  28  to  Oct.  25.     Cambridge,  A.  V.,  two  instances,  Sept. 

Eggs^  three  to  four,  butl'y  white,  spotted  and  scrawled  with  chocolate 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  1-50  x  1-10. 

In  localities  where  this  bird  is  common  it  is  difficult  to  get  beyond 
the  reach  of  its  notes.  Lakesides,  meadows,  pastures,  and  cultivated 
fields  all  attract  it,  but  it  is  more  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of  water. 
It  is  a  noisy,  restless  bird,  running  rapidly  when  on  the  ground,  and 
when  on  the  wing  flying  swiftly  and  sometimes  pursuing  a  most 
irregular  course.  As  a  rule  it  is  found  in  flocks,  which  scatter  when 
feeding  but  unite  when  taking  wing.  At  the  first  sign  of  danger  it 
utters  its  half-plaintive,  half-petulant  kill-dee,  hill-dee,  and  when  thor- 
oughly alarmed  its  outcry  increases  until,  beside  itself  with  fear,  it 
reaches  the  limit  of  its  vocal  powers.  Although  by  no  means  shy,  the 
Killdeer  never  seems  to  gain  confidence  in  man,  and  at  his  approach 
always  gives  voice  to  its  fear.  Even  at  night  I  have  heard  it  cry  out 
at  some  real  or  fancied  danger. 


274.  .Sgialitis  semipalinata^owa^.  Semipalmated  Plover  ;  Eing- 
NECK.     (See  Fig.  25,  d,  26,  e.~)     Ad.  in  summer. — Feathers  at  the  base  of  the 

upper  mandible,  front  of  the 
crown,  sides  of  the  head  be- 
low the  eye,  and  a  band 
on  the  breast,  which  gener- 
ally encircles  the  neck  all 
around,  black  ;  rest  of  under 
parts  and  a  ring  around  the 
neck  white ;  back  of  head' 
and  back  brownish  gray; 
inner  tail-feathers  brownish 
gray,  outer  ones  becoming 
gradually  white  ;  toes  webhed 
at  the  base.  Winter  plum- 
age.— Similar,  but  the  black 
replaced  by  brownish  gray. 
L.,  6-75  ;  W.,  4-80 ;  Tar.,  -90  ; 
Fig.  65.— Semipalmated  Plover.    (Natural  size.)   g    .50. 

Eange. — Breeds  from  Lab- 
rador to  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Sea;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Brazil. 

Washington,  casual,  three  specimens.  May ;  Aug.  Long  Island,  common 
T.  v..  May ;  Aug.  and  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.  in  fall ;  Aug.  23  to 
Sept.  20.  Cambridge,  rare  in  spring ;  sometimes  common  in  Aug.  and 
Sept. 

Eggs,  three  to  four,  buffy  white  or  creamy  bufi",  spotted  with  chocolate, 
V30  X  -90. 


PLOVERS.  1Y5 

This  species  frequents  sandy  beaches,  mud-flats,  and  marshes.  It 
is  found  generally  in  small  flocks  of  five  or  ten  individuals,  which, 
unlike  the  Sand  Oxeyes,  do  not  feed  in  a  compact  body,  but  run  rap- 
idly about,  independently  of  one  another.  When  they  take  wing, 
however,  they  close  ranks  at  once  and  move  as  though  governed  by 
one  desire. 

Their  simple,  sweet,  plaintive  call  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic 
notes  heard  on  our  shores.  At  noonday,  when  the  heat  waves  are 
dancing  over  the  marshes  and  even  the  twittering  Oxeyes  are  silent, 
one  may  hear  the  cool,  pure  notes  of  this  little  Plover.     They  may  be 

written    |-^pv — ' — J — .     A  third,  shorter  note  is  sometimes  added. 


Even  a  whistled  imitation  of  them  takes  me  to  the  beaches. 


The  EiNG  Plovek  {275.  ^gialitis  hiaticula)^  an  Old-Woz'ld  species,  is 
found  in  Greenland.  It  is  similar  to  the  preceding  but  slightly  larger,  the 
black  band  on  the  breast  is  wider,  and  there  is  no  web  between  the  inner  and 
middle  toes. 

277.  .£gialitis  meloda  {Ord).  Piping  Plover.  Ad.  in  stunmer. 
— Upper  parts  pale  whitish  ashy ;  forehead,  imder  parts,  and  a  ring  around 
the  neck  white ;  front  of  the  crown  and  a  band  on  either  side  of  the  breast 
black ;  inner  tail-feathers  fuscous,  outer  ones  becoming  white.  Winter  plum- 
age.— Similar,  but  the  black  replaced  by  brownish  gray.  L.,  7"00;  W.,  4*75  ; 
Tar.,  -85 ;  B.,  -50. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  Virginia  to  Newfound- 
land ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Long  Island,  not  uncommon  S.  R.,  Mch.  through  Sept.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V". 

Eggs.,  three  to  four,  creamy  white,  finely  spotted  or  speckled  with  choco- 
late, 1-24  X  -95. 

The  Piping  Plover  resembles  the  Ring-neck  in  habits  but  not  in 
notes.  Mr.  J.  H.  Langille  writes  that  it  ''  can  not  be  called  a  '  whistler,' 
nor  even  a  '  piper,'  in  an  ordinary  sense.  Its  tone  has  a  particularly 
striking  and  musical  quality.  Queep,  queep,  queep-o,  or  peep,  peep, 
peep-lo,  each  syllable  being  uttered  with  a  separate,  distinct,  and  some- 
what long-drawn  enunciation,  may  imitate  its  peculiar  melody,  the 
tone  of  which  is  round,  full,  and  sweet,  reminding  one  of  a  high  key 
on  an  Italian  hand  organ  or  the  hautboy  in  a  church  organ.  It  is 
always  pleasing  to  the  lover  of  Nature's  melodies,  and  in  the  still  air 
of  the  evening  it  is  very  impressive." 

277a.  .^.  m.   circumcincta   Ridgio.     Belted  Piping  Plover. — 

Closely  resembles  the  preceding,  from  which  it  differs  in  having  the  bands 
"xu  either  side  of  the  breast  joined,  forming  a  continuous  bre'astband. 

Bange. — Breeds  from  "  northern  Illinois  and  Nebraska  northward  to  Lake 


176 


PLOVERS. 


Winnepeg,"  and  eastward  to  the  Magdalen  and  Sable  Islands ;  winters  from 
the  Gulf  southward.     Casual  on  the  Atlantic  coast  during  the  migrations. 
Long  Island,  A.  V.  in  summer. 

S80.  ^^alitis   wilsonia   {Ord).      Wilson's    Plover.     Ad.    $ .— 
Lores,  front  of  crown,  and  a  band  on  the  breast  black ;  rest  of  under  parts, 

forehead,  and  an  indistinct  ring  on 

the  nape  white ;   sides  of  the  head 

and    nape    sometimes   with   rufous 

markings;  cheeks, 

crown,    and    back 

brownish       gray  ; 

inner  tail-feathers 

fuscous,  outer  ones  becoming  white. 

Ad.  ?  . — Similar,  but  black  replaced 

by  brownish  gray.    Ini. — Similar  to 

9  ,  but  upper  parts  margined  with 

grayish.     L.,  7-50 ;  W.,  4-50 ;  Tar., 

1-10;  B. 

Range. — America,  breeding  from 
Virginia  to  Central  America ;  win- 
ters southward  to  Brazil ;  casual 
northward  to  Nova  Scotia. 

Long  Island,  A.  V.,  in  sum- 
mer. 

Eggs^  three,  creamy  white,  even- 
ly and  rather  finely  spotted  and  speckled  with  chocolate,  1.42  x  1-03. 

This  is  a  more  strictly  maritime  species  than  the  other  representa- 
tives of  this  genus.  Sandy  beaches  are  its  favorite  resorts,  but  it  is 
also  found  on  mud-flats  exposed  by  the  falling  tide.  Dr.  Coues  de- 
scribes its  note  as  half  a  whistle,  half  a  chirp,  quite  different  from  that 
of  the  preceding  species.  It  is  a  gentle,  unsuspicious  bird,  and  when 
.its  nest  is  approached  it  runs  about  the  intruder  and  begs  as  plainly 
as  a  bird  can  that  he  will  not  disturb  its  treasures. 

The  MouNTAiK  Plover  {281.  JEgialitis  montana)^  a  western  species,  is  of 
accidental  occurrence  in  Florida.  The  upper  parts  are  grayish  brown  margined 
with  rufous,  the  under  parts  are  white  tinged  with  buffy  on  the  breast ;  in 
adults  the  front  of  the  crown  and  lores  are  black.  L.,  about  8-75 ;  W.,  5-75 ; 
Tar.,  1-50  ;  B.,  -85. 


Fig.  66.— Wilson's  Plover.    (Natural  size.) 


Family  Aphrizid^.     Surf  Birds  and  Turnstones. 

A  small  family  of  four  species,  three  of  which  are  found  in  North 
America,  though  but  one  of  these  visits  our  Eastern  States.  They  are 
strictly  maritime  birds,  frequenting  only  the  seacoasts,  where  they 
prefer  the  outer  beaches. 


TURNSTONES,   OYSTER-CATCHERS.  177 

S83*  Arenaria  interpres  {Linn.).  Turnstone;  Brant  Bird; 
Calico-back.  Ad.  in  sum7nei\ — Upper  parts,  including  wings,  strikingly 
variegated  with  rufous,  black,  and  white ;  tail  white  at  the  base,  a  black  band 
near  its  end,  and  tipped  with  white  ;  throat  and  breast  black  and  white  ;  belly 
white.  Winter  plumage. — Upper  parts  blackish,  bordered  with  brownish 
gray  or  ashy ;  lower  back  white  ;  longer  upper  tail-coverts  white,  shorter  ones 
black;  tail  as  in  the  adult;  throat  white,  breast  black  margined  with  white, 
belly  white.     L.,  9-50  ;  W.,  6-00;  Tar.,  -95;  B.,  1-00. 

Range. — Nearly  cosmopolitan  ;  breeds  in  the  arctic  regions,  and  in  Amer- 
ica migrates  southward  to  Patagonia. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  T.  V.  Long  Island,  common  T.  V.  May  ; 
Aug.  and  Sept.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V, 

Eggs.1  three  to  four,  clay-color,  blotched  and  scrawled  with  grayish  brown, 
1-60  X  1-15. 

This  strictly  maritime  species  is  found  singly  or  in  small  flocks, 
generally  on  the  outer  beaches,  where  it  obtains  its  food  by  turning 
over  shells  and  pebbles  in  search  of  insects,  crustaceans,  etc. 

Family  H^matopodid^.     Oyster-catchers. 

The  Oyster-catchers  number  ten  species,  represented  in  most  of  the 
warmer  parts  of  the  globe.  But  three  species  are  found  in  North 
America,  and  only  one  of  these  occurs  in  the  Eastern  States.  They  are 
strictly  maritime  birds,  and  resort  to  the  outer  bars  and  beaches  in 
search, of  clams,  mussels,  etc.,  exposed  by  the  tide.  Their  strong  bill 
is  used  as  an  oyster-knife  to  force  open  the  shells  of  these  bivalves. 

286.  Hsematopus  palliatus  Temm.  American  Oyster-catcher. 
Ad. — Head,  neck,  and  upper  breast  glossy  black,  back  and  wing-coverts  olive- 
brown,  secondaries  white,  primaries  fuscous,  upper  tail-coverts  white,  base  of 
the  tail  white,  end  fuscous,  lower  breast  and  belly  white.  Im. — Similar,  but 
head  and  neck  blackish  and  upper  parts  more  or  less  margined  with  buffy. 
L.,  19-00  ;  W.,  10-50  ;  Tar.,  2-40  ;  B.,  3-40. 

Range. — Seacoasts  of  temperate  and  tropical  America,  from  New  Jersey 
and  Lower  California  to  Patagonia;  occasional  or  accidental  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  north  to  Massachusetts  and  Grand  Menan. 

Long  Island,  A.  V, 

Eggs^  three  to  four,  buify  white  or  creamy  buff,  rather  evenly  spotted  and 
blotched  with  chocolate,  2-20  x  1-55. 

A  not  uncommon  species  from  southern  New  Jersey  southward; 
confined  exclusively  to  the  coast.  It  agrees  in  habits  with  other  mem- 
bers of  this  small  family. 

The  European  Oyster-catcher  {^85.  Hcematopus  ostralegus)  is  of  acci- 
dental occurrence  in  Greenland, 
13 


178  GROUSE,   BOB-WHITES,   ETC. 


ORDER  GALLIXiE.     GALLINACEOUS  BIRDS. 

Family  Tetraonid^.    Grouse,  Bob-whites,  etc. 

Of  the  two  hundred  species  contained  in  this  family,  one  hundred 
belong  in  the  subfamily  Perdicince  or  Old- World  Partridges  and 
Quails,  sixty  in  the  subfamily  Odontophorinm  or  New- World  Par- 
tridges and  Bob-whites,  and  twenty-five  in  the  subfamily  Tetraoiiince 
or  Grouse,  inhabiting  the  northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere. 
Generally  speaking,  these  birds  are  non-migratory,  though  there  are 
some  striking  exceptions  among  the  PerdicincB.  After  the  nesting 
season  they  commonly  gather  in  "  coveys  "  or  bevies,  usually  composed 
of  the  members  of  but  one  family.  In  some  species  these  bevies  unite 
or  "  pack,"  forming  large  flocks.  As  a  rule,  they  are  terrestrial,  but 
may  take  to  trees  when  flushed,  while  some  species  habitually  call  and 
feed  in  trees.  They  are  game  birds  par  excellence,  and,  trusting  to 
the  concealment  afforded  by  their  dull  colors,  attempt  to  avoid  detec- 
tion by  hiding  rather  than  by  flying,  or,  in  sportsman's  phraseology, 
"  lie  well  to  a  dog."  Their  flight  is  rapid  and  accompanied  by  a  start- 
ling ivhirr,  caused  by  the  quick  strokes  of  their  small,  concave,  stiff- 
feathered  wings. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Tarsi  bare 289.  Bob-white.     289a.  Florida  Bob*white, 

B.  Upper  third  or  half  of  tarsi  feathered. 

300.  KuFFED  Grouse.     300a.  Canada  Ruffed  Grouse, 

C.  Tarsi  entirely  feathered,  toes  bare. 

a.  With  bunches  of  elongated,  stiffened  feathers  springinor  from  either  side 
of  the  neck .     305.  Prairie  Hen.     306.  Heath  Hen. 

h.  Feathers  of  neck  normal. 
J».  Outer  web  of  primaries  spotted  with  white. 

308&.  Prairie  Sharp-tailed  Grouse. 
ft*.  Primaries  not  spotted  with  white 298.  Canada  Grouse. 

D.  Tarsi  and  toes  entirely  feathered 301.  Ptarmigan  and  races. 

289.  Colinus  virginianus  {Linn.).  Bob-white  ;  Quail  ;  Partridge. 
Ad.  $  in  winter. — tapper  parts  varying  from  reddish  brown  to  chestnut;  in- 
terscapulars with  broken  and  sometimes  complete  black  bars;  inner  vane 
of  tertials  widely  margined  with  cream-buff";  rump  grayish  brown,  finely 
mottled,  and  with  a  few  streaks  of  blackish  ;  tail  ashy  gray,  the  inner  feath- 
ers finely  mottled  with  buff'y ;  front  of  the  crown,  a  band  from  the  bill  to  be- 
neath the  eye,  and  a  band  on  the  upper  breast  black ;  throat  and  a  broad  line 
from  the  bill  over  the  eye  white ;  sides  rufous-chestnut,  margined  with  black 
and  white;  lower  breast  and  belly  white  barred  with  black.  Ad.  9  in  win- 
ter.— Similar,  but  the  throat  and  line  over  the  eye,  forehead,  and  lores  pale 
ochraceous-buff ;  little  or  no  black  on  the  upper  breast.    Surmner  examples 


GROUSE,   BOB-WHITES,   ETC.  179 

of  both  sexes  have  the  crown  blacker,  the  bufiy  markings  generally  paler. 
L.,  10-00 ;  W.,  4-50 ;  T.,  2-50 ;  B.  from  N.,  -35. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  from  southern  Maine  and  Minnesota 
southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico ;  resident  wherever  found. 

Washington,  common  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  E.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon P.  E. 

Nest^  on  the  ground,  in  grassy  fields.  Eggs.,  ten  to  eighteen,  white, 
1-20  X  -95. 

Taking  the  Old- World  species  of  the  genera  Coturnix  and  Caccdbis 
as  the  types  respectively  of  Quails  and  Partridges,  neither  of  these  lat- 
ter names  can  properly  be  applied  to  our  Colinus,  which  should  there- 
fore be  known  under  the  distinctive  title  Bob-white. 

During  the  nesting  season  Bob-whites  are  distributed  in  pairs 
through  clearings  and  cultivated  fields.  The  members  of  a  brood 
constitute  a  bevy  or  covey,  though  occasionally  two  families  or  broods 
are  found  in  one  bevy.  In  the  fall  they  frequent  grain  fields,  but  as 
winter  approaches  draw  in  toward  thickets  and  wooded  bottom-lands, 
sometimes  passing  the  coldest  weather  in  boggy  alder  swamps.  They 
roost  on  the  ground,  tail  to  tail,  with  heads  pointing  outward  ;  a  bunch 
of  closely  huddled  forms — a  living  bomb  whose  explosion  is  scarcely 
less  startling  than  that  of  dynamite  manufacture. 

Like  most  grass-inhabiting  birds  whose  colors  harmonize  with  their 
surroundings.  Bob-whites  rely  on  this  protective  resemblance  to  escape 
detection,  and  take  wing  only  as  a  last  resort.  Sometimes  they  take 
refuge  in  trees,  but  usually  they  head  for  wooded  cover,  where  they 
remain  if  the  growth  is  dense,  but  if  it  is  open  they  generally  run  the 
moment  they  touch  the  ground. 

About  May  1  they  begin  to  pair,  and  rival  males  may  then  be  seen 
battling  for  mates  like  diminutive  gamecocks. 

The  name  "  Bob-white  "  originated  in  the  spring  call  of  the  male. 
Mounting  a  fence  or  ascending  to  the  lower  branches  of  a  tree,  he 
whistles  the  two  clear  musical,  ringing  notes  Bob-white  !  Sometimes 
they  are  preceded  by  a  lower  one  which  can  be  heard  only  when  one 
is  near  the  singer. 

After  the  breeding  season,  when  the  birds  are  in  bevies,  their  notes 
are  changed  to  what  sportsmen  term  "  scatter  calls."  Not  long  after 
a  bevy  has  been  flushed  and  perhaps  widely  scattered,  the  members  of 
the  disunited  family  may  be  heard  signaling  to  one  another  in  sweet 
minor  calls  of  two  and  three  notes.  When  excited  they  also  utter  low, 
twittering  notes. 

289a*  C.  V.  florida>nus  {Coues^.  Florida  Bob-white;  Quail  ;  Par- 
tridge.— Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  smaller,  the  plumage  throughout  darker, 
the  black  of  the  back  more  extensive,  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  grayer, 


180  GROUSE,   BOB-WHITES,   ETC. 

the  black  throat-band  wider  and  sometimes  reaching  down  upon  the  breast, 
the  rufous-chestnut  of  the  sides  more  extensive,  the  blaclv  bars  of  the  breast 
and  belly  much  wider.     L.,  8-50  ;  W.,  4-40  ;  T.,  2-50, 

Range. — Florida,  except  the  northern  border  of  the  State. 

A  common  bird  throughout  the  pine-grown  portions  of  the  Florida 
peninsula.  It  is  especially  numerous  on  old  plantations,  where  it  fre- 
quents patches  of  "  cow  peas."  It  resembles  the  northern  Bob- white 
in  habits,  but  is,  I  think,  more  inclined  to  take  to  the  trees  when 
flushed.  1  have  seen  a  whole  covey  fly  up  into  the  lofty  pine  trees, 
where,  squatting  close  to  the  limbs,  they  became  almost  invisible. 

They  begin  to  pair  early  in  March. 

The  European  or  Migratory  Quail  {Coturnix  coturnix)  has  been  intro- 
duced into  this  country  on  several  occasions,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  sur- 
vived. 

298.  Dendragapus canadensis  {Linn.).  Canada  Grouse  ;  Spruce 
Partridge.  Ad.  6  . — Upper  parts  barred  with  black,  ashy,  gray,  and  grayish 
brown  ;  tertials  and  wing-coverts  irregularly  marked  with  fuscous  and  grayish 
brown;  tail  black,  tipped  with  rufous;  the  black  throat  separated  from  the 
black  breast  by  a  broken  circular  band  of  black  and  white  and  a  band  of  the 
same  color  as  the  back  of  the  neck  ;  sides  mottled  with  black  and  grayish 
brown,  the  ends  of  the  feathers  with  white  shaft  streaks ;  rest  of  the  under 
parts  black,  broadly  tipped  with  white,  except  on  the  middle  of  the  lower 
breast ;  bare  skin  above  the  eye  bright  red  in  life.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts 
barred  with  black  and  pale  rufous  and  tipped  with  ashy  gray  ;  tail  black, 
mottled  and  tipped  with  rufous ;  throat  and  upper  breast  barred  with  pale 
rufous  and  black;  sides  mottled  with  black  and  pale  rufous,  the  ends  of  the 
feathers  with  white  shaft  streaks ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  black,  broadly 
tipped  with  white  and  more  or  less  washed  with  pale  rufous.  L.,  15-00 ;  W., 
6-50 ;  T.,  4-75 ;  B.  from  N.,  -40. 

Range. — From  northern  New  England,  northern  New  York,  and  northern 
Minnesota  northwestward  to  Alaska. 

Nest.1  on  the  ground,  l^ggs.,  nine  to  sixteen,  buffy  or  pale  brownish,  more 
or  less  speckled  or  spotted  with  deep  brown,  1-71  x  1-22  (Ridgw.). 

This  species  is  a  common  inhabitant  of  coniferous  forests,  and  is 
generally  resident  wherever  found.  An  excellent  account  of  its  habits 
is  given  in  Captain  Bendire's  Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds, 
p.  51. 

300.    Bonasa  umbellus    {Linn.).     Ruffed    Grouse  ;   Partridge  ; 

Pheasant.  Ad.  4  . — Prevailing  color  of  the  upper  parts  rufous,  much  varie- 
gated with  black,  ochraceous,  buffy,  gray,  and  whitish  ;  sides  of  the  neck  with 
large  tufts  of  broad,  glossy  black  feathers ;  tail  varying  from  gray  to  rufous, 
irregularly  barred  and  mottled  with  black,  a  broad  black  or  brownish  band 
near  the  end  ;  tip  gray  ;  throat  and  breast  ochraceous-buff,  a  broken  blackish 
band  on  the  breast;  rest  of  the  under  parts  white,  tinged  with  buffy  and 


ID 
o 
Pi 


GROUSE,  BOB- WHITES,  ETC.  181 

barred  with  blackish  or  dark  grayish  brown,  the  bars  indistinct  on  the  breast 
and  belly,  stronger  on  the  sides.  Ad.  9 , — Similar,  but  with  the  neck  tufts 
very  small.     L.,  17-00  ;  W.,  7-25  ;  T.,  6-25  ;  B.  from  N.,  -52. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  from  Vermont  to  Virginia,  and  along  the 
Alleghanies  to  northern  Georgia. 

Washington,  not  common  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  E.  Cambridge, 
common  P.  R. 

JS^est.,  on  the  ground,  at  the  base  of  a  stump  or  tree,  or  beneath  brush. 
Eggs.,  eight  to  fourteen,  pale  ochraceous-buff,  1-52  x  1-13. 

Of  all  the  characteristics  of  this  superb  game  bird,  its  habit  of 
drumming  is  perhaps  the  most  remarkable.  This  loud  tattoo  begins 
with  the  measured  thump  of  the  big  drum,  then  gradually  changes 
and  dies  away  in  the  rumble  of  the  kettle-drum.  It  may  be  briefly  rep- 
resented thus:    TJiump thump thump — thump,  thump;  thump, 

thump-rup  rup  rup  rup  r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r.  The  sound  is  produced  by 
the  male  bird  beating  the  air  with  his  wings  as  he  stands  firmly  braced 
on  some  favorite  low  perch ;  and  it  is  now  quite  well  known  to  be  the 
call  of  the  male  to  the  female ;  an  announcement  that  he  is  at  the  old 
rendezvous — a  rendezvous  that  has  perhaps  served  them  for  more  than 
one  season,  and  a  place  that  in  time  becomes  so  fraught  with  delight- 
ful associations  that  even  in  autumn  or  winter  the  male,  when  he  finds 
himself  in  the  vicinity,  can  not  resist  the  temptation  to  mount  his 
wonted  perch  and  vent  his  feelings  in  the  rolling  drum-beat  that  was 
in  springtime  his  song  of  love.  But  now,  alas !  there  is  no  lady  Grouse 
to  come,  shy  but  responsive,  at  the  sound  of  his  reverberating  sum- 
mons. 

There  is  good  reason  for  supposing  that  the  Ruffed  Grouse  is  po- 
lygamous, and  that  the  male,  if  he  drums  in  vain  at  one  place,  will 
fly  to  another  retreat  and  there  seek  the  society  of  some  more  compli- 
ant female. 

The  young  Grouse  can  run  about  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched,  and 
can  fly  well  when  about  a  week  old.  Their  mother  is  celebrated  for  the 
variety  of  expedients  she  puts  in  practice  to  save  her  brood  from  threat- 
ened danger,  and  their  father  has  frequently  been  known  to  divide  the 
charge  with  her.  The  young  usually  continue  with  their  parents  till 
the  following  spring,  though  it  is  rare  at  this  time  to  see  more  than 
three  or  four  surviving  out  of  the  original  twelve  or  fourteen. 

The  food  of  this  Grouse  is  largely  insects  and  berries  during  the 
summer ;  in  the  autumn  it  adds  seeds  to  the  list,  and  when  the  ground 
is  covered  with  snow  the  staples  are  catkins,  leaves,  and  buds. 

Its  toes  are  provided  during  the  winter  with  a  curious  fringe  of 
strong,  horny  points  which  act  as  snowshoes.  In  the  northern  part 
of  its  range  this  bird  commonly  burrows  into  a  snowdrift  to  pass  the 
night  during  the  season  of  intense  cold ;  but  in  the  summer  and  in 


182  GROUSE,   BOB-WHITES,   ETC. 

the  warmer  region  of  its  range  it  roosts  habitually  among  the  thickets 
of  evergreen. — Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

300ai*  B.  U.  toga<ta«  {Linn.).  Canadian  Buffed  Gbouse;  Par- 
TEiDGE. — To  be  distinguished  from  the  preceding  by  the  prevailing  color  of 
the  upper  parts,  which  are  gray  instead  of  rufous,  and  the  more  distinctly 
barred  under  parts,  the  bars  on  the  breast  and  belly  being  nearly  as  well  de- 
lined  as  those  on  the  side ;  the  tail  is  generally  gray. 

Range. — Nova  Scotia,  northern  half  of  Maine,  northern  Vermont,  New 
Hampshire,  and  New  York  northward  and  westward  to  Hudson  Bay  and 
Oregon. 

301*  LagopiiS  laigopus  {Linn.).     Willow  Ptarmigan.     Ad.  $  in 

summer. — Prevailing  color  above  rufous.^  or  black  thickly  barred  or  mottled 
with  rufous  and  bufty  or  whitish ;  tail  fuscous,  tipped  with  white ;  middle 
tail-coverts  like  the  back ;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  like  the  head  and  neck ; 
belly  white.  Ad.  9  in  summer. — Similar  to  the  male,  but  the  bars  both  above 
and  below  broader  and  more  numerous.  Winter  plumage. — Tail-feathers  fus- 
cous as  in  summer,  rest  of  the  plumage  white.  L.,  15-00 ;  W.,  7*50 ;  T.,  4-40 ; 
B.  from  N.,  -42 ;  depth  of  B.  at  N.,  -44. 

Remarks. —Both  this  species  and  its  subspecies  alleni  may  be  distinguished 
from  our  other  Ptarmigans  by  their  more  rufous  color  and  larger  bills. 

Range.— '■^  Northern  portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  south  in  winter ; 
in  America  to  Sitka,  xilaska,  the  British  Provinces,  and  occasionally  within 
the  northern  border  of  the  United  States  "  (Bendire). 

JVest,  on  the  ground.  L^ggs,  seven  to  eleven,  varying  from  cream-buff  to 
rufous,  heavily  spotted  and  blotched  with  blackish,  1*75  x  1-20. 

This  abundant  and  characteristic  arctic  bird  does  not  nest  south  of 
central  Labrador,  but  migrates  southward  in  winter  to  the  St.  Law- 
rence, and  has  once  been  taken  in  northern  New  York  and  once  in 
New  Brunswick.  An  extended  account  of  its  habits  will  be  found  in 
Nelson's  Report  on  Natural  History  Collections  made  in  Alaska,  p.  131. 
It  is  quoted  by  Captain  Bendire  in  his  Life  Histories  of  American 
Birds  (p.  70),  where  will  be  found  practically  all  we  know  concerning 
the  habits  of  this  and  the  following  members  of  this  genus. 

301a;.  Li.  1.  alleni  Stejn.  Allen's  Ptarmigan. — Differs  from  the  pre- 
ceding in  having  the  "  shafts  of  secondaries  black,  and  quills  (sometimes  a 
few  of  the  wing-coverts  also)  more  or  less  blotched  or  mottled  with  dusky. 
Summer  plumages  and  young  unknown"  (Ridgw.), 

Range. — Newfoundland. 

"  It  frequents  rocky  barrens,  feeding  on  seeds  and  berries  of  the 
stunted  plants  that  thrive  in  these  exposed  situations"  (Merriam, 
Orn.  and  Ool.,  viii,  1883,  p.  43). 

302*  'LlS^^opu8rupe8tna{(r7neL).  Eock  Ptarmigan  ;  Eocker.  Ad. 
$  in  summer. — General  color  above  grayish,  the  feathers  black  basally ;  head 


GROUSE,   BOB-WHITES,  ETC.  183 

and  neck  barred,  and  back  marked  with  numerous  fine  wavy  lines  of  gray 
and  white  or  bufiy ;  central  tail-feathers  like  the  back,  outer  ones  fuscous, 
generally  tipped  with  white ;  breast  and  sides  like  the  head  and  neck  ;  belly 
white.  Ad.  5  in  summer. — Above  black,  barred  with  ochraceous-buff  and 
margined  with  grayish ;  middle  tail-feathers  the  same,  outer  ones  as  in  the 
male ;  middle  of  the  belly  white,  rest  of  the  under  parts  like  the  back,  but 
with  more  ochraceous-bufl".  Winter  plumage. — Lores  hlach.,  outer  tail-feathers 
as  in  summer,  rest  of  the  plumage  white.  W,,  7"25 ;  B.  from  N.,  -35 ;  depth 
of  B.  at  N.,  -32. 

Range. — "Arctic  America  in  general,  southeastward  to  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  (Anticosti),  except  the  northern  extremity  of  the  peninsula  of 
Labrador,  and  region  thence  northward,  Greenland  and  Aleutian  Islands " 
(Bendire). 

N^est.,  usually  placed  among  the  dwarf  brush  or  sedge-covered  patches  of 
the  tundras.  LJggs.,  six  to  ten,  pale  cream  or  yellowish  butf,  sometimes  with 
a  vinaceous-rufous  suffusion,  spotted  and  blotched  with  clove-brown  or  dark 
claret-red,  1-65  x  1-18  (Bendire). 

"  In  its  general  manners  and  mode  of  living  it  is  said  to  resemble 
albus  [  =  iy.  lagopus],  but  does  not  retire  so  far  into  the  wooded  coun- 
try in  the  winter  "  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

302a.  L.  r.  reinhardti  (^r^Am).  Greenland  Ptarmigan.  ^'■Sum- 
mer male. — Similar  to  corresponding  stage  of  L.  rupestris.,  but  less  regu- 
larly and  coarsely  barred  above.  Summer  female. — Above  chiefly  black,  this 
varied  irregularly  with  pale  grayish  buff,  mostly  in  form  of  borders  to  the 
feathers  and  spots  along  their  edges,  or  occasionally  imperfect  bars,  these  lat- 
ter most  distinct  on  wings,  where  the  two  colors  are  in  about  equal  propor- 
tion ;  lower  parts  light  grayish  buff,  everywhere  coarsely  barred  with  black  " 
(Ridgw.). 

Range. — ^Northern  parts  of  Labrador  northward  to  Greenland. 

"  They  prefer  more  open  ground,  and  rarely  straggle  even  into  the 
.skirts  of  the  wooded  tracts.  The  hilltops  and  barrens  (hence  often 
called  the  Barren  Ground  Bird)  are  their  favorite  resorts  *'  (Turner). 

303.  Lagopus  \^elclli  Brewst.  Welch's  Ptarmigan.  Ad.  ^  in 
summer. — Upper  parts  black,  the  head  and  neck  barred  with  white  and  cchra- 
ceous-buff,  the  back  and  wing-coverts  finely  and  irregularly  marked  with 
wavy  lines  of  buffy  and  white;  tail  grayish  fuscous,  the  middle  feathers 
tipped  with  white ;  throat  white,  foreneck  like  the  hind  neck,  breast  and 
sides  like  the  back  :  rest  of  the  under  parts  white.  9  . — Upper  parts  black, 
finely  and  irregularly  barred  with  ochraceous-buff,  grayish.,  and  white ;  cen- 
tral tail-feathers  like  the  back,  others  fuscous  ;  foreneck,  breast,  and  sides 
like  the  hind  neck  ;  belly  white.  Winter  plumage. — White,  tail  fuscous,  the 
central  feathers  tipped  with  white;  lores  'black.  W.,  7"25 ;  B.  from  N.,  -35; 
depth  of  B.  at  N.,  -32. 

Remarks. — This  species  with  L.  rupestris  is  to  be  distinguished  from 
Lagopus  lagopus  by  the  ochraceous-buff  instead  of  rufous  markings,  the  fine 


184  GROUSE,   BOB-WHITES,   ETC. 

grayish  wavy  bars  on  the  upper  parts,  and  the  smaller  bill.    For  a  comparison 
of  IV elc hi  with  rupestris  see  Auk,  ii,  1885,  p.  193. 

Range. — Newfoundland. 

Nest  and  eggs  unknown. 

"  According  to  Mr.  Welch,  these  Ptarmigan  are  numerous  in  New- 
foundland, where  they  are  strictly  confined  to  the  bleak  sides  and  sum- 
mits of  rocky  hills  and  mountains  of  the  interior"  (Brewster,  I.  c). 

305.  Tympanuchus  americanus  (Reich.).  Prairie  Hen.  Ad. 
$  . — Upper  parts  barred  with  rufous  and  black  and  spotted  with  rufous  ;  sides 
of  the  neck  with  tufts  generally  composed  of  ten  or  more  narrow,  stiffened 
black  feathers  marked  with  buffy  and  rufous,  their  ends  rounded.,  the  skin 
beneath  these  tufts  bare ;  tail  rounded.,  fuscous,  the  inner  feathers  somewhat 
mottled  with  ochraceous-buff,  tip  white ;  throat  butfy  ;  breast  and  belly 
white,  evenly  barred  with  black.  Ad.  9  .—Similar,  but  the  neck  tufts  much 
smaller  and  the  tail  barred  with  ochraceous-burt"  or  rufous.  L.,  18-00 ;  W., 
9-00  ;  T.,  4-00  ;  B.  from  N.,  -52. 

Range. — Prairies  of  Mississippi  Valley,  south  to  Louisiana,  west  to  north- 
ern Indian  Territory,  middle  Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  eastern  North  and  South 
Dakota;  east  to  Kentucky,  Indiana,  northwestern  Ohio,  southwestern  Michi- 
gan, and  southwestern  Ontario ;  north  to  southern  Manitoba  (Bendire). 

Nest.,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  eleven  to  fourteen,  butfy  olive,  sometimes  finely 
speckled  with  brownish,  1-70  x  1-25. 

"This  familiar  game  bird  inhabits  our  fertile  praii'ies,  seldom  fre- 
quenting the  timbered  lands  except  during  sleety  storms  or  when  the 
ground  is  covered  with  snow.  Its  flesh  is  dark,  and  it  is  not  very 
highly  esteemed  as  a  table  bird. 

•'  During  the  early  breeding  season  they  feed  largely  upon  grass- 
hoppers, crickets,  and  other  forms  of  insect  life,  but  afterward  chiefly 
upon  our  cultivated  grains,  gleaned  from  the  stubble  in  autumn  and 
the  cornfields  in  winter  ;  they  are  also  fond  of  tender  buds,  berries,  and 
fruits.  They  run  about  much  like  our  domestic  fowls,' but  with  a  more 
stately  carriage.  When  flushed  they  rise  from  the  ground  with  a  less 
whirring  sound  than  the  Ruffed  Grouse  or  Bob-white,  and  their  flight 
is  not  as  swift,  but  more  protracted  and  with  less  apparent  effort,  flap- 
ping and  sailing  along,  often  to  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  more.  In 
the  fall  the  birds  collect  together  and  remain  in  flocks  until  the  warmth 
of  spring  quickens  their  blood  and  awakes  the  passions  of  love  ;  then, 
as  with  a  view  to  fairness  and  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  they  select  a 
smooth  open  courtship  ground  (usually  called  a  'scratching  ground'), 
where  the  males  assemble  at  the  early  dawn  to  vie  with  each  other  in 
courage  and  pompous  display,  uttering  at  the  same  time  their  love 
call,  a  loud  booming  noise;  as  soon  as  this  is  heard  by  the  hen  birds 
desirous  of  mating  they  quietly  put  in  an  appearance,  squat  upon  the 


GROUSE,   BOB-WHITES,  ETC.  185 

ground,  apparently  indifferent  observers,  until  claimed  by  victorious 
rivals,  which  they  gladly  accept,  and  receive  their  caresses  "  (Goss). 

306.  Tympanuchus  cupido  {Linn.).  Heath  Hen. — Similar  to  the 
preceding,  but  tlie  scapulars  broadly  tipped  with  buffy  ;  the  neck  tufts  of  less 
than  ten  feathers ;  these  feathers  pointed,  not  rounded^.aX  the  ends. 

Range. — Island  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  Mass. 

Nest^  "  in  oak  woods,  among  sprouts  at  the  base  of  a  large  stump  "  (Brew- 
ster). Eggs.,  six  to  thirteen,  "  creamy  butf  in  color,  with  a  slight  greenish 
tinge,"  1-73  x  1-29. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  century  the  Heath  Hen  was  found  locally 
throughout  the  Middle  States,  where,  unlike  its  western  representative, 
the  Prairi'e  Hen,  it  lived  in  wooded  districts.  It  is  now  restricted  to 
the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  an  excellent  illustration  of  the  pro- 
tection afforded  by  an  insular  habitat. 

Mr.  William  Brewster,  writing  in  1890  (Forest  and  Stream,  p.  188; 
see  also  p.  207),  estimated  that  there  were  from  one  hundred  and 
twenty  to  two  hundred  Heath  Hens  then  on  the  island,  but  he  has 
recently  informed  me  that  since  then,  owing  to  insufficient  protection, 
they  have  been  nearly  exterminated. 

308b.  Fediocastes  phasianellus  campestris  Ridgtv.  Pkaibie 
Sharp-tailed  Grouse.  Ad.  6  . — Prevailing  color  of  the  upper  parts  ochra- 
ceous-buff,  barred  and  irregularly  marked  with  black ;  no  neck  tufts ;  outer 
web  of  the  primaries  spotted  with  white ;  middle  tail-feathers  projecting 
about  an  inch  beyond  the  others,  ochraceous-buff  and  black ;  throat  buify ; 
breast  with  V-shaped  marks  of  black  ;  sides  irregularly  barred  or  spotted  with 
black  or  buffy;  middle  of  the  belly  white.  Ad.  9. — Similar,  but  smaller; 
the  middle  tail-feathers  shorter.    L.,  17-50 ;  W.,  8-50  ;  T.,  4-50  ;  B.  from  N.,  -50. 

Range. — Western  United  States  from  New  Mexico  northward  to  Manitoba, 
east  to  Wisconsin  and  northern  Illinois. 

Nest.^  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  eleven  to  fourteen,  creamy  buff  or  pale  olive- 
brown,  generally  slightly  spotted  with  fine,  reddish  brown  markings,  1-65  x 
1-22  (Bendire). 

This  partially  migratory  species  lives  on  the  prairies  during  the 
summer  and  in  wooded  regions  in  the  winter.  A  capital  account  of 
its  habits  is  given  by  Ernest  E.  Thompson  in  his  Birds  of  Manitoba. 

Family  Phasianid^.    Pheasants,  etc. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Yucatan  Turkey  and  the  four  races  of 
our  Wild  Turkey,  the  some  ninety  species  included  in  this  family  are 
inhabitants  of  the  Old  World,  and  are  most  numerously  represented 
in  southern  Asia,  where  are  found  the  Peacock,  many  of  the  Pheasants, 
and  the  Jungle  Fowl,  from  which  the  varieties  of  our  domesticated 
fowls  have  descended. 


186  WILD   TURKEYS. 

310.  Meleagris  gallopavo   Linn.     Wild  Turkey.  — The   Wild 

Turkey  may  be  distinguished  from  the  common  domestic  race  chiefly  by  the 
chestnut  instead  of  white  tips  to  the  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail.  "  6  ad.  I.., 
about  48-00-50 ;  W.,  21-00 ;  T.,  18-50  ;  Weight  16-40  lbs."  (Kidgw.). 

Jiauge. — Eastern  United  States  from  Pennsylvania  southward  to  Florida, 
west  to  Wisconsin,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas. 

Washington,  rare  P.  K. 

Nest^  on  the  ground,  at  the  base  of  a  bush  or  tree.  Eggs^  ten  to  fourteen, 
pale  cream-buft,  finely  and  evenly  speckled  with  grayish  brown,  2-45  x  1-95. 

This  noble  game  bird  is  rapidly  decreasing  in  numbers,  and  in 
comparatively  few  years  will  doubtless  be  found  only  in  the  parts  of 
its  range  which  are  unfit  for  the  habitation  of  man. 

Except  during  the  breeding  season,  Wild  Turkeys  are  found  in 
small  flocks  of  six  to  twelve  or  fifteen  individuals  of  both  sexes.  They 
roost  preferably  in  the  trees  in  wooded  bottom-lands,  returning  each 
night  to  the  same  locality. 

At  the  opening  of  the  breeding  season  in  March  the  male  begins  to 
gobble.  As  a  rule,  he  calls  only  early  in  the  morning,  before  leaving 
his  roost.  Later  he  sails  to  the  ground  and  at  once  begins  his  search 
for  breakfast,  or,  attracted  by  the  plaintive  piping  of  some  female,  he 
struts  and  displays  his  charms  before  her.  It  is  at  this  time  that  bat- 
tles between  the  males  occur.  They  are  polygamists,  and  the  victor 
becomes  sultan  of  the  harem.  During  the  period  of  incubation,  and 
while  the  young  require  their  mother's  care,  the  females  do  not  associ- 
ate with  the  males,  who  then  flock  together. 

The  calls  of  both  sexes  so  closely  resemble  those  of  the  domestic 
birds  that  it  requires  a  practiced  ear  to  distinguish  them.  In  locali- 
ties where  both  birds  might  be  expected  to  occur,  1  could  never  be 
sure  whether  I  was  listening  to  the  challenge  of  some  defiant  gobbler 
perched  in  a  cypress  in  the  valley  below,  or  to  the  vainglorious  effort 
of  the  lord  of  the  poultry  yard. 

The  Wild  Turkey  is  divided  by  ornithologists  into  four  closely  re- 
lated races.  Meleagris  gallopavo  is  the  bird  of  the  Eastern  States; 
M.  g.  osceola,  as  stated  below,  is  found  in  southern  Florida ;  M.  g. 
ellioti  inhabits  southeastern  Texas  and  northeastern  Mexico;  M.  g. 
mexicana  ranges  from  western  Texas  to  Arizona,  and  south  over  the 
table  lands  of  Mexico  to  Vera  Cruz.  It  is  this  race,  with  white-tipped 
upper  tail-coverts,  which  was  first  introduced  into  Europe,  where  it 
had  become  established  as  early  as  1530. 

310b.  M.  g.  osceola  ticott.  Florida  Wild  Turkey.— Eesemblea 
M.  gallopavo,  but  is  smaller,  and  the  primaries,  instead  of  being  regularly  and 
widely  barred  with  white,  as  in  that  bird,  have  mucli  smaller,  broken  white 
markings.     Weight,  6  12-22  lbs. ;   ?  4-75-9  lbs.  (Scott,  Auk,  ix,  1892,  p.  115) 

Bangt. — Southern  Florida. 


PIGEONS  AND   DOVES.  I37 

OBDER  COLUMBiE.     PIGEONS  AND  DOVES. 

Family  Columbid^.    Pigeons  and  Doves. 

About  one  third  of  the  three  hundred  known  species  of  Pigeons 
and  Doves  are  found  in  the  New  World,  but  of  this  number  only  twelve 
species  occur  in  North  America.  The  birds  of  this  family  differ  widely 
in  their  choice  of  haunts.  Some  are  strictly  arboreal,  others  as  strictly 
terrestrial.  Some  seek  the  forests  and  others  prefer  fields  and  clear- 
ings. Some  nest  in  colonies,  others  in  isolated  pairs,  but  most  species 
are  found  in  flocks  of  greater  or  less  size  after  the  breeding  season. 
When  drinking,  they  do  not  raise  the  head  as  other  birds  do  to  swal- 
low, but  keep  the  bill  immersed  until  the  draught  is  finished.  The 
young  are  born  naked  and  are  fed  by  regurgitation. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Tail  widely  tipped  with  white  or  grayish  white. 

a.  Tail  pointed. 

ai.  Back  or  rump  bluish  slate-color 315.  Passengek  Pigeon. 

a'.  Back  olive  grayish  brown 316.  Mourning  Dove. 

b.  Tail  square 317.  Zenaida  Dove. 

£.  Tail  not  tipped  with  white. 

'  a.  Upper  parts  dark  slate-color 314.  White-crowned  Pigeon, 

b.  Upper  parts  rufous  with  purplish  reflections. 

Ji.  Line  below  the  eye  and  belly  white  or  whitish     .    322.  Quail  Dove. 
b^.  Line  under  the  eye  and  belly  buify  ochraceous. 

322.1.  EuDDY  Quail  Dove. 

c.  CFpper  parts  grayish  olive-brown. 

c».  Crown  blue,  a  white  line  below  the  eye. 

323.  Blue-headed  Quail  Dove. 
tf3.  Crown  pinkish  or  like  the  back 320.  Ground  Dove. 

314.  Colmuba    leucocephala    -Linn.     White-crowned    Pigeon. 

Ad.  $  . — Eich  slate-color ;  crown  white  ;  back  of  the  head  purplish  chestnut ; 
back  of  the  neck  with  greenish  reflections,  each  feather  with  a  black  border. 
Ad.  $. — Similar,  but  paler;  crown  ashy,  less  purplish  chestnut:  back  and 
sides  of  the  neck  brownish  ash  with  metallic  reflections  and  black  margins. 
L.,  13-50;  W.,  7-50;  T,  5-10;  B.,  -70. 

Range. — Florida  Keys,  West  Indies,  and  coast  of  Central  America. 

Nest.,  in  low  bushes.    Eggs.,  two,  glossy  white,  1*41  x  1-02. 

This  Pigeon  is  locally  common  in  some  of  the  keys  off  southern 
Florida,  and  has  been  known  to  occur  on  the  mainland.  According 
to  Mr.  J.  W.  Atkins  (Auk,  vi,  1889,  p.  246),  it  arrives  at  Key  West  early 
in  May  and  remains  until  November. 

315.  Ectopistes  migratorius  (Zm??.).  Passenger  Pigeon.  (See 
b^ig.  28.)     Ad.  3. — Upper  parts  rich  bluish  slate-color;  back  and  sides  of  the 


188  PIGEONS  AND  DOVES. 

neck  with  metallic  reflections ;  middle  of  the  hack  and  scapulars  more  or  less 
washed  with  olive-brown;  middle  tail-feathers  fuscous,  outer  ones  black  at 
the  base,  then  slaty  blue,  fading  into  a  broad,  white  tip ;  under  parts  deep, 
rich  vinaceous  ;  lower  belly  white ;  throat  bluish  slate-color.  Ad.  9  . — Simi- 
lar, but  upper  parts  with  less  iridescence  and  more  olive-brown ;  breast  pale 
grayish  brown ;  belly  whitish.  Im. — ^Generally  similar  to  the  9  ,  but  the 
feathers  of  the  upper  parts  and  breast  tipped  with  whitish,  the  primaries  edged 
and  tipped  with  rufous.     L.,  16-29  ;  W.,  7-82;  T.,  7-53  ;  B.,  7-10. 

Konqe. — Eastern  North  America,  northward  in  the  interior  to  Hudson  Bay, 
breeding  locally  throughout  the  more  northern  part  of  its  range. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  T.  V.  or  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  formerly  rare 
S.  K.  and  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  15  to  May  17 ;  Aug.  21  to  Oct.  11 ;  last  seen 
Oct.  11, 1888.     Cambridge,  rare  and  irregular  T.  V. 

Nest^i  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  a  tree.     Eggs^  one  to  two,  white,  1-45  x  1-09. 

Wilson,  writing  about  1808,  estimated  that  a  flock  of  Wild  Pigeons 
observed  by  him  near  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  contained  at  least  2,230,- 
272,000  individuals.  Captain  Bendire,  writing  in  1892,  says :  "...  It 
looks  now  as  if  their  total  extermination  might  be  accomplished  within 
the  present  century.  The  only  thing  which  retards  their  complete  ex- 
tinction is  that  it  no  longer  pays  to  net  these  birds,  they  being  too 
scarce  for  this  now,  at  least  in  the  more  settled  portions  of  the  coun- 
try, and  also,  perhaps,  that  from  constant  and  unremitting  persecution 
on  their  breeding  grounds  they  have  changed  their  habits  somewhat, 
the  majority  no  longer  breeding  in  colonies,  but  scattering  over  the 
country  and  breeding  in  isolated  pairs"  (Life  Histories  of  North 
American  Birds,  p.  133). 

An  article  by  William  Brewster  on  The  Present  Status  of  the  Wild 
Pigeon  as  a  Bird  of  the  United  States,  with  some  Notes  on  its  Habits 
(Auk,  vi,  1889,  pp.  285-291),  gives  much  information  concerning  the 
recent  history  of  the  bird  in  Michigan,  one  of  its  last  strongholds. 
According  to  an  informant  of  Mr.  Brewster's,  the  last  nesting  in  Michi- 
gan of  any  importance  was  in  1881.  "  It  was  of  only  moderate  size — 
perhaps  eight  miles  long."  The  largest  known  Michigan  nesting  oc- 
curred in  1876  or  1877.  It  was  twenty-eight  miles  long  and  averaged 
three  or  four  miles  in  width. 

In  the  Atlantic  States  the  Wild  Pigeon  is  now  so  rare  a  bird  that 
during  the  past  sixteen  years  I  have  seen  only  one  pair. 

316.  Zenaidura  macroura  (Z^^w.).    Mourning  Dove.    Ad.  $, . — 

Upper  parts  olive  grayish  brown ;  forehead  vinaceous ;  crown  bluish  slate- 
color ;  sides  of  the  neck  with  metallic  reflections,  a  small  blach  mark  beloiv  the 
ear;  middle  tail-feathers  like  the  back,  the  others,  seen  from  above,  slaty 
gray  for  the  basal  half,  then  banded  with  black  and  broadly  tipped  with  ashy 
and  white ;  breast  vinaceous ;  belly  cream-buff'.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  with 
U;ss  iridescence ;  breast  and  forehead  washed  with  grayish  brown.    Im. — 


PIGEONS   AND  DOVES.  189 

Much  like  the  $  ,  but  the  feathers  tipped  with  whitish.  L.,  11-85  ;  W.,  5-72; 
T.,  5-50  ;  B.,  -53. 

EemarTcs. — The  Dove  is  sometimes  mistaken  for  the  Wild  Pigeon,  hut, 
aside  from  the  diiferences  in  size,  may  always  be  distinguished  by  its  olive 
grayish  brown  iuvstead  of  bluish  slate-color  rump,  the  black  mark  below  the 
ear,  and  other  characters. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  Cuba  north  to  Ontario,  Quebec, 
and  southern  Maine,  and  wintering  from  southern  Illinois  and  New  York  to 
the  Greater  Antilles  and  Panama. 

Washington,  P.  K. ;  common,  except  in  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R., 
Mch.  3  to  Nov.  27 ;  a  few  winter.  Cambridge,  occasional  during  summer  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Cambridge. 

Nest^  a  flat  structure  of  small  twigs  rather  loosely  put  together,  on  the 
lower  branches  of  a  tree,  generally  within  ten  feet  of  the  ground ;  rarely  on 
the  ground  in  the  Eastern  States.     Eggs,  two,  white,  1"07  x  -83. 

Doves  resemble  Wild  Pigeons,  but  are  much  smaller,  and  their  rapid 
flight  is  accompanied  by  the  whistling  sound  of  wings,  while  the  flight 
of  the  Wild  Pigeon  is  said  to  be  noiseless. 

During  the  nesting  season  they  may  be  found  in  pairs,  generally 
in  open  woodlands  or  tree-bordered  fields.  They  also  visit  roads  and 
lanes  to  dust  themselves.  The  sweet,  sad  call  of  the  male  has  won  for 
this  species  its  common  name ;  it  consists  of  several  soft  coos,  which 
may  be  written  :  Coo-o-o,  ah-coo-o-o  —  coo-o-o  —  coo-o-o.  Under  favor- 
able circumstances  these  notes  may  be  heard  at  a  distance  of  at  least 
two  hundred  and  fifty  yards;  they  are  uttered  slowly  and  tenderly, 
and  with  such  apparent  depth  of  feeling  that  one  might  easily  imagine 
the  bird  was  mourning  the  loss  of  his  mate,  instead  of  singing  a  love- 
song  to  her. 

At  this  season  one  or  both  birds  may  be  seen  performing  a  peculiar 
aerial  evolution.  Ascending  to  a  height  of  about  thirty  feet,  they  fly 
for  some  distance  in  an  unnatural  manner,  and  then,  after  a  short  sail, 
return  to  their  perch.  When  engaged  in  this  performance  they  very 
closely  resemble  a  Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

After  the  nesting  season  Doves  gather  in  flocks  of  varying  size  and 
frequent  grain  and  corn  fields.  During  the  day  they  visit  the  near- 
est supply  of  fine  gravel,  which  they  eat  in  large  quantities  as  an  aid 
to  digestion.  In  some  localities,  soon  after  sunset,  they  regularly  re- 
pair in  numbers  to  some  favorite  place  to  drink,  and  then  retire  to 
their  roosts. 

31*7*  Zena<id.a<  zenaida;  (Bonap.).     Zenaida  Dove.    Ad. — Bears  a 

general  resemblance  to  Zenaidura  macroura.  but  the  tail  is  square  and  tipped 
with  ashy,  and  the  under  parts  are  deep,  rich  vinaceous.  L.,  10-00 ;  W.,  6-10: 
T.,  3-50 ;  B.,  -66. 

Range. — Florida  Keys,  West  Indies,  and  coast  of  Yucatan. 

Nest,  on  or  near  the  ground.    Eggs,  two,  glossy  white,  1-22  x  -92. 


190  PIGEONS   AND   DOVES. 

This  is  a  common  West  Indian  species.  Audubon  found  it  in 
numbers  in  the  keys  off  southern  Florida,  where  he  records  it  as  a 
summer  resident,  arriving  in  April  and  departing  in  October.  The 
few  naturalists  who  have  visited  these  keys  since  Audubon's  time  r.ave 
not  been  there  in  the  summer,  and  we  do  not  therefore  know  whether 
this  species  still  occurs  there  at  that  season.  It  is  more  terrestrial  in 
habits  than  the  Mourning  Dove,  and  its  notes  are  deeper,  louder,  and 
more  solemn  than  the  notes  of  that  species. 

The  White-winged  Dove  {319.  Melopelia  leucoptera)  is  a  species  of  gen- 
eral distribution  from  the  Mexican  border  of  the  United  States  south  to  Costa 
Eica,  and  it  has  been  recorded  from  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  San  Domingo.  It  is 
of  accidental  occurrence  at  Key  West,  Florida. 

330.  Coluxnbigallina  passerina  terrestris  Chapm.  Ground 
Dove;  Mourning  Dove.  Ad.  $. — Forehead  and  under  parts  vinaceous,  the 
centers  of  the  breast-feathers  blackish  ;  top  and  back  of  the  head  bluish  slate- 
color  ;  back  brownish  gray  ;  tail  blackish,  the  outer  feathers  with  small  white 
tips;  base  of  the  bill  coral-red,  tip  black.  Ad.  9  .—Similar,  but  the  forehead 
and  under  parts  pale  brownish  gray.  Im. — Resembles  the  9  ,  but  the  feathers 
are  tipped  with  whitish.     L.,  6-75  ;  W.,  3-60  ;  T.,  2-50  ;  B.,  -50. 

Range. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  north  to  North  Carolina,  west  to 
Texas ;  more  common  near  the  coast  than  inland, 

Washington,  accidental ;  two  records. 

Nest.,  on  the  ground  or  in  low  trees  or  bushes.    Eggs.,  two,  white,  "85  x  -67. 

This  diminutive  Pigeon  frequents  both  pines  and  "hummocks," 
lake-shores  and  old  fields,  and  in  some  southern  towns  is  a  familiar 
bird  of  the  quieter  streets.  It  is  by  no  means  shy,  and  runs  before 
one  with  quick,  short  steps  and  a  graceful  movement  of  the  head.  Oc- 
casionally it  holds  its  tail  upright,  giving  it  a  peculiar  bantamlike  ap- 
pearance. Its  flight  is  short,  and  when  on  the  wing  it  bears  an  odd 
resemblance  to  a  short-tailed  Japanese  kite. 

Its  favorite  roosting  places  are  densely  foliaged  orange  trees,  and 
frequently  when  the  bird  is  hidden  in  their  depths  one  may  hear  its 
mellow,  crooning  coos  uttered  so  softly  that  they  float  on  the  air  as 
though  born  of  murmuring  winds. 

322.  Geotrygon  martinica  (Gmel.).  Quail  Dove. — Upper  parts 
rufous,  with  brilliant  metallic  reflections  ;  wings  rufous ;  a  white  line  beneath 
the  eye ;  breast  vinaceous  ;  belly  white.    L.,  11-00 ;  W.,  6-20 ;  T.,  5-00 ;  B.,  -50. 

Range. — Florida  Keys  and  West  Indies. 

Nest.,  in  trees.     Eggs.,  two,  ochraceous-white,  1-22  x  -94  (Bendire). 

A  West  Indian  species  which  occurs  during  the  summer  regularly, 
but,  so  far  as  known,  only  in  small  numbers  in  the  Florida  Keys. 

The  Quail  Doves  inhabit  wooded  districts,  where  they  live  on  the 
ground.     Their  flight  is  low  and  noiseless,  and,  according  to  my  ex- 


VULTURES.  191 

perience  with  them  in  Cuba,  they  are  difficult  birds  to  observe  unless 
one  can  find  some  tree  on  the  fallen  fruits  of  which  they  are  feeding. 

The  EuDDT  Quail  Dove  {322.1.  G-eotrygon  montana)  is  a  West  lodian 
and  Central  American  species,  which  has  been  once  recorded  from  Key  West 
(Atkins,  Auk,  vi,  1889,  p.  160).  It  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  the  pre- 
ceding, but  the  back  is  more  rufous  and  the  belly  is  deep  cream-bull. 

The  Blue-headed  Quail  Dove  {32S.  Starmoenas  cya?wcephala),  a  Cuban 
species,  is  of  accidental  occurrence  in  the  Florida  Keys.  The  back  is  olive- 
brown,  the  crown  and  sides  of  the  throat  are  deep  grayish  blue,  throat  black, 
line  beneath  the  eye  white. 


ORDER  RAPTORES.     BIRDS  OF  PREY. 

Family  Oathartid^.    American  Vultures. 

A  New  World  family  of  eight  species,  of  which  three  are  North 
American.  Within  their  range  Vultures  are  found  wherever  there  is 
food.  Far  above  the  earth  on  firm  wing  they  sail  in  broad  circles,  and 
from  this  outlook  in  the  sky  descend  to  feast  upon  the  stricken  deer 
in  the  forest  or  the  cur  lying  in  the  gutters  of  a  thoroughfare.  Except 
during  the  nesting  season,  they  are  generally  found  in  flocks,  which 
each  night  return  to  a  regularly  frequented  roost.  When  alarmed, 
they  utter  low,  grunting  sounds,  but  at  other  times  are  voiceless. 

325.  Cathartes  aura  (Linn.).  Turkey  Vulture.  (See  Fig.  32.) 
Ad. — Head  and  neck  naked,  the  skin  and  base  of  the  bill  bright  red  ;  plum- 
age glossy  black,  edged  with  grayish  brown.  Im. — Similar,  but  the  head 
covered  with  grayish-brown  furlike  feathers.  L.,  about  SO'OO ;  W.,  22-00 ; 
T.,  11-00  ;  B.,  2-30. 

Range. — Temperate  North  America,  from  New  Jersey  southward  to  Pata- 
gonia. Of  more  or  less  regular  occurrence  in  New  Jersey  as  far  north  as 
Princeton  in  the  interior  and  Sandy  Hook  on  the  coast. 

Washington,  abundant  P.  R.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

Nest.,  in  hollow  stumps  or  logs,  or  on  the  ground  beneath  bushes  or  pal- 
mettos. Eggs.,  one  to  three,  dull  white,  generally  spotted  and  blotched  with 
distinct  and  obscure  chocolate  marking,  but  sometimes  plain  or  but  slightly 
spotted,  2-80  x  2-00. 

Doubtless  one  of  the  first  things  that  attract  the  attention  of  a 
stranger  in  our  Southern  States  is  the  Turkey  Buzzard.  Indeed,  there 
are  few  moments  between  sunrise  and  sunset  when  these  birds  are 
not  in  sight.  On  outstretched,  immovable  wings  they  soar  overhead 
in  graceful  circles,  perfect  pictures  of  "  repose  in  motion."  Without 
once  flapping  their  broad  pinions,  they  sail  in  spirals  up  the  sky  until 
they  are  hidden  by  the  storm-clouds  they  have  purposely  avoided. 


192  VULTURES. 

Again,  one  sees  them  winging  their  way  low  over  fields  or  through  the 
streets  of  a  town  in  search  of  food,  which  their  powers  of  both  sight 
and  smell  assist  them  in  finding. 

Their  services  as  scavengers  are  invaluable.  The  thought  of  bury- 
ing a  dead  horse  or  cow  never  occurs  to  the  southern  planter.  He 
simply  drags  the  animal  to  a  more  or  less  retired  place  and  leaves  it 
for  the  Buzzards,  who  never  fail  to  do  justice  to  the  repast. 

In  some  southern  towns  they  make  a  sell-constituted  street-clean- 
ing department,  and  if  their  efl;orts  were  seconded  by  a  corps  of  goats, 
to  dispose  of  the  more  indigestible  materials,  they  would  form  an  ad- 
mirable branch  of  the  public  service. 

After  a  rain  it  is  a  common  sight  to  see  Buzzards  perching  with 
wings  held  in  spread-eagle  fashion  as  they  dry  their  water-soaked 
plumage.  Frequently  they  stand  on  the  top  of  a  chimney  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  heat  arising  with  the  smoke. 

Their  only  note  is  a  low,  hissing  sound  uttered  when  they  are  dis- 
turbed. Just  after  sunset  Buzzards  may  be  seen  sailing  to  their 
roosting  place,  generally  in  the  upper  branches  of  a  dead  tree, 

326.  Ca<tharista  a>tra<ta  {Bartr.).  Black  Vulture.  Ad. — Head 
and  neck  bare,  the  skin  and  base  of  the  bill  'blackish  ;  plumage  glossy  black ; 
under  surface  of  the  wings  silvery.  L.,  about  24-00  ;  W.,  17-00 ;  T.,  8-00 ;  B., 
2-20. 

Range. — Breeds  from  North  Carolina  southward,  through  Mexico  to  South 
America,  and  occasionally  strays  as  far  north  as  Maine. 

Nest.^  on  the  ground,  under  logs,  bushes,  palmettos,  etc.  Eggs.,  one  to  three, 
pale  bluish  white,  generally  more  or  less  spotted  with  distinct  and  obscure 
chocolate  markings,  2-95  x  2-00. 

This  species  is  more  abundant  near  the  seacoast  and  less  common 
in  the  interior  than  the  preceding.  It  is  also  more  often  found  living 
in  towns  or  cities.  Any  one  who  has  visited  the  vicinity  of  the  market 
in  Charleston,  S.  C,  will  testify  to  its  abundance  and  semi-domestica- 
tion there.  Indeed,  the  birds  have  become  so  tame  that  when  engaged 
in  devouring  some  savory  morsel  they  are  in  frequent  danger  of  being 
trodden  under  foot. 

Black  Vultures  are  heavier  birds  than  Turkey  Buzzards,  and  when- 
ever the  ownership  of  food  is  in  question  the  dispute  is  invariably 
settled  in  the  Vulture's  favor.  Their  stretch  of  wing,  however,  is  not 
so  great,  and  for  this  reason  their  flight  is  far  less  easy  and  graceful 
than  that  of  the  Buzzard.  They  flap  their  wings  oftener,  and  this 
habit,  in  connection  with  their  black  heads,  grayish  primaries,  and 
comparatively  short  tails,  serves  to  identify  them  in  the  field.  The  only 
note  I  have  ever  heard  from  them  is  a  low  grunt  uttered  when  they 
are  disturbed. 


FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,  ETC.  193 


Family  Falconid^.    Falcons,  Hawks,  Eagles,  etc. 

The  three  hundred  and  fifty  species  included  in  this  family  are 
distributed  throughout  the  world.  One  tenth  of  the  number  are  found 
in  North  America.  During  the  migratory  seasons  they  may  some- 
times be  seen  traveling  in  scattered  flocks,  which  may  take  hours  to 
pass  a  given  point.  At  other  times  of  the  year,  with  few  exceptions, 
they  are  solitary  birds,  having  no  intercourse  with  their  kind.  During 
the  breeding  season  many  species  have  definitely  bounded  haunts,  upon 
which  intrusion  by  individuals  of  the  same  species  is  not  permitted. 
With  much  regularity  they  return  to  the  same  locality  and  even  the 
same  nest  year  after  year,  and  some  species  are  known  to  mate  for  life. 
Their  days  are  an  unceasing  vigil.  At  all  times  they  are  on  the  alert 
for  food.  This  consists  to  a  large  extent  of  small  mammals  and  in- 
sects, birds  and  poultry  forming  a  comparatively  insignificant  part  of 
the  diet  of  most  species.  Hawks  are  thus  of  great  value  to  the  agri- 
culturist as  the  natural  check  upon  the  increase  of  the  myriads  of 
small  rodents  so  destructive  to  crops. 

The  cries  of  Hawks  are  generally  loud,  startling,  and  characteristic 
of  their  fierce  natures.  They  strike  their  prey  with  their  feet,  and  use 
the  bill  to  tear  it  into  fragments. 

Hawks'  nests  are  generally  bulky  affairs,  composed  of  coarse  twigs 
and  sticks.  The  presence  of  downy  feathers  gives  evidence  that  they 
are  or  have  been  recently  occupied. 

KEY  TO   THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Wing  over  19-00. 

A.  Upper  half  of  tarsus  feathered. 

a.  Whole  head  and  neck  white 352.  Bald  Eagle  (Ad.). 

b.  Head  and  neck  brown  or  brownish. 

b^.  Bill  mostly  yellow  (Greenland)    .    .  351.  Gray  Sea  Eagle  (Ad.). 
J'.  Bill  black  or  blackish  ........  352.  Bald  Eagle  (Im.). 

£.  Whole  tarsus  feathered 349.  Golden  Eagle. 

II.  Wing  under  19-00. 

1.  Feathers  of  under  parts    more  or  less  streaked  and 
spotted,  without  cross-bars. 
A.  Outer  primary  with  numerous  black  or  blackish  bars. 
a.  Wing  under  10-00. 
a^.  Back  bright  rufous,  with  or  without  black  bars. 

360.  Am.  Sparrow  Hawk, 

a'.  Back  bluish  slate-color 357.  Pigeon  Hawk  (Ad.), 

as.  Back  fuscous,  second  primary  longest. 

357.  Pigeon  Hawk  (Im.). 
a*.  Back  fuscous,  fourth  primary  longest,  tail-feathers  of  nearly  equal 

length  ;  wing  under  9-00 332.  Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

14 


194  FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,  ETC. 

flB.  Back  fuscous,  fourth  primary  longest,  outer  tail-feathers  half  an 

inch  or  more  shorter  than  the  middle  ones ;  wing  over  9-00. 

333.  Cooper's  Hawk. 
b.  Wing  over  10-00. 

h^.  Second  primary  longest,  tail  generally  over  9-00, 

b^.  "Lower  tail-coverts  immaculate  white."  353.  White  Gyrfalcon-. 

Js.  "  Lower  tail-coverts  always  more  or  less  marked  with  dusky." 

354.  Gray  Gyrfalcon  and  Eaces. 

c».  Second  primary  longest,  tail  under  9-00. 

c^.  Tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  nail,  upper  parts  blackish. 

356.  Duck  Hawk. 

c^.  Tarsus    longer    than    middle    toe   without    nail,  upper    parts 

brownish 355.  Prairie  Falcon. 

d^.  Third  or  fourth  primary  longest. 

d^.  Upper  tail-coverts  white 331.  Marsh  Hawk. 

d^.  Upper  tail-coverts  brownish      .     .     .  334.  Am.  Goshawk  (Im.). 

B.  Outer  primary  generally  one  color,  base  sometimes  whitish  or  with 

a  few  imperfect  bars. 

a.  Tarsus  entirely  bare,  scales  on  its  front  large,  rounded. 

362.  Audubon's  Caracara. 

b.  Tarsus  entirely  feathered    ....     348.  Ferruginous  Kough-leg. 

c.  Tarsus  partly  feathered,  scales  on  its  front  small,  rounded. 

364.  Am.  Osprey. 

d.  Tarsus  partly  feathered,  scales  on  its  front  transverse,  more  or  less 

square. 
d^.  Three  outer  primaries  emarginate  or  "  notched."  * 

d^.  Wing  under  12-00  ....     343.  Broad- winged  Hawk  (Im.). 

d^.  Wing  over  12-00 342.  Swainson's  Hawk  (Im.). 

«i.  Four  outer  primaries  emarginate  or  "  notched."  t 

e^.  Upper  tail-coverts  pure  white 331.  Marsh  Hawk. 

e"^.  Upper  tail-coverts  not  pure  white;  wing  under  13*50;   lesser 
wing-coverts  conspicuously  margined  with  rufous. 

339.  Eed-shouldered  Hawk  (Im.). 
«*.  Upper  tail-coverts  not  pure  white ;  wing  over  13-50 ;  lesser  wing- 
coverts  not  conspicuously  margined  with  rufous. 

337.  Ked-tailed  Hawk  and  Eaces. 
2.  Feathers  of  under  parts  -with  more  or  less  niunerous 
cross-bars. 
A.  Scales  on  front  of  the  tarsus  numerous,  rounded. 

a.  Wing  under  15-00 356.  Duck  Hawk. 

b.  Wing  over  15-00 362.  Audubon's  Caracara. 

S.  Scales  on  front  of  the  tarsus  sharply  defined,  transverse,  more  or  less 

square. 
a.  Four  or  five  outer  primaries  emarginate  or  "  notched."  f 
a^.  Tail  white  at  the  base  and  tipped  with  whitish. 

330.  Everglade  Kite. 

« . . CI 

*  See  Fig.  70.  +  See  Fig.  69. 


FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,   ETC.  195 

a*.  Tail  rufous,  with  sometimes  a  black  band  near  the  end. 

337.  Eed-tailed  Hawk  (Ad.)  and  Races. 
a*.  Tail  black  or  blackish,  with  four  to  six  white  or  grayish  cross- 
bars .     339.  Red-shouldered  Hawk  (Ad.). 

339rt.  Florida  Red-shouldered  Hawk  (Ad.): 
a*.  Tail  10-00  long,  gray,  with  several  indistinct  blackish  bands. 

334.  Am.  Goshawk. 
b.  Three  outer  primaries  emarginate  or  "  notched."  * 
b^.  Tail  with  two  or  three  broad  whitish  bars. 

343.  Broad-winged  Hawk  (Ad.). 
b*.  Tail  with  numerous  narrow,  indistinct  blackish  bars. 

342.  Swainson's  Hawk  (Ad.). 
C.  Front  of  the  tarsus  smooth,  or  with  the  scales  not  sharply  defined ; 
outer  primary  barred. 

a.  Wing  under  9*00,  tail-feathers  of  nearly  equal  length. 

332.  Sharp-shinned  Hawk  (Ad.). 

b.  Wing  over  9-00,  outer  tail-feathers  half  an  inch  shorter  than  the  mid- 
dle ones ;  upper  tail-coverts  not  white.      333.  Cooper's  Hawk  (x\d.). 

c.  Wing  over  9-00 ;  upper  tail-coverts  white     331.  Marsh  Hawk  (Ad.). 
J).  Tarsus  entirely  feathered. 

a.  Legs  rich  rufous,  heavily  barred     .     348.  Ferruginous  Rough-leg. 

b.  Legs  ochraceous-buff,  more  or  less  barred. 

347a.  Am.  Rough-legged  Hawk. 
3.  Under  parts  -vrithout  streaks  or  bars. 
A.  Under  parts  white. 

a.  Scales  on  front  of  tarsus  transverse,  more  or  less  square. 

334.  Short-tailed  Hawk. 

b.  Scales  on  front  of  tarsus  numerous,  rounded. 
Ji.  Tail  barred. 

ft'.  Upper  parts  not  barred 364.  Am.  Ospre-S" 

Js.  Upper  parts  barred 353.  White  Gyrfalcon. 

c^.  Tail  not  barred. 

c'.  Tail  square,  white 328.  White- tailed  Kite. 

cs.  Tail  forked,  bluish  black     .     .     .    327.  Swallow-tailed  Kite. 
£.  Under  parts  dark  brown,  slate,  gray,  or  black. 

a.  Tarsus  entirely  feathered   .     .     .     347a.  Am.  Rough-legged  Hawk. 

b.  Tarsus  partly  feathered,  scales  transverse,  more  or  less  square. 
51.  Wing  over  13-00. 

6*.  Upper  tail-coverts,  base  and  tip  of  the  tail  white ;  two  outer 
primaries  slightly  "  notched "  .  .  .  .  330.  Everglade  Kite. 
b^.  Three  outer  primaries  "  notched  "  *  .  342.  Swainson's  Hawk. 
b*.  Four  outer  primaries  "  notched "  .  .  338.  Harlan's  Hawk. 
ci.  Wing  under  13-00. 
c».  Primaries  more  or  less  distinctly  barred ;  general  plumage  sooty 

black 844.  Short-tailed  Hawk. 

c8.  Primaries  not  barred ;  general  plumage  slaty  blue. 

329.  Mississippi  Kite. 

*  See  Fig.  70. 


196  FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,   ETC. 

327.  Elanoides  forficatus  {Linn.).  Swallow-tailed  Kite.  Ad. 
— Head,  neck,  linings  of  the  wings,  rump,  part  of  tertials,  and  under  parts 
white ;  rest  of  the  plumage  glossy  bluish  black  ;  tail  deeply  forked,  the  outer 
feathers  about  8-00  longer  than  the  middle  ones.  L,,  24-00 ;  W.,  16-50 ;  T., 
13-50  ;  B.  from  N.,  -80. 

Range. — Southern  United  States  north  to  Pennsylvania  and  casually  to 
Massachusetts ;  south  to  South  America ;  breeding  locally  throughout  its 
range,  and  wintering  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Sest.,  in  the  upper  branches  of  tall  trees.  Eggs.,  two  to  four,  white  or  buft'y 
white,  boldly  spotted  or  blotched,  chiefly  round  the  larger  end,  with  hazel- 
brown,  chestnut,  or  rich  madder-brown,  1*87  x  1-49  (Kidgw.). 

The  Swallow-tailed  Kite  winters  in  Central  and  South  America, 
and  appears  in  the  United  States  in  March.  Its  home  is  the  air,  and 
it  is  far  more  frequently  seen  on  the  wing  than  at  rest.  It  captures 
its  prey,  devours  it,  and  drinks  while  under  way.  Its  flight  possesses 
all  the  marvelous  ease  and  grace  of  a  Swallow's,  made  more  evident, 
and  consequently  more  impressive,  by  the  bird's  much  greater  size. 

328.  Elanus  leucurus  (  Vieill.).  White-tailed  Kite.  Ad. — Upper 
parts  ashy  gray,  whiter  on  the  head  ;  wing-coverts  black  ;  tail  and  under  parta 
white.    L.,  15-50 ;  W.,  12-50  ;  T.,  7-00  ;  B.  from  N.,  -70. 

Range. — Breeds  from  South  Carolina,  southern  Illinois,  and  Indian  Terri- 
tory southward  through  Mexico  to  the  Argentine  Kepublic ;  rare  east  of  the 
Mississippi. 

Nest.,  in  trees.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  "  handsomely  marbled  or  clouded  with 
various  shades  of  rich  madder-brown  on  a  paler  (sometimes  whitish)  ground, 
1-71  X  1-31 "  (Eidgw.). 

This  species  is  not  often  found  east  of  the  Mississippi.  It  frequents 
open,  marshy  situations.  A  pair  which  I  observed  in  Texas  hunted 
by  hovering  over  the  reeds,  sustaining  a  position  facing  the  wind,  and 
about  forty  feet  from  the  ground,  by  a  gentle  movement  of  the  wings. 

329.  Ictinia  mississippiensis  (  Wils.).  Mississippi  Kite.  Ad.— 
Head,  neck,  exposed  margins  of  the  secondaries,  and  under  parts  gray ;  back 
bluish  slate-color;  primaries  streaked  or  spotted  with  rufous-chestnut;  tail 
black,  without  bars.  Im. — Head  streaked  with  black  and  white ;  back  black- 
ish, tipped  with  rufous  or  white,  the  concealed  parts  of  the  feathers  white  and 
with  generally  one  blackish  bar ;  primaries  without  rufous ;  tail  with  three 
or  four  broken  white  bars ;  below  buft'y,  streaked  with  rufous  and  grayish 
brown.    L.,  14-00;  W.,  11-25:  T.,  6-50;  B.  from  N.,  -60. 

Range. — Breeds  from  South  Carolina,  southern  Illinois,  and  Kansas  south- 
ward to  Central  America ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Nest.,  in  tall  trees.  Eggs.,  two,  dull  white,  sometimes  with  a  bluish  tinge, 
1-63  X  1-32. 

This  bird,  like  the  preceding,  is  only  a  summer  resident  in  the 
United  States,  arriving  from  the  south  in  April.    It  is  not  common 


FALCONS.  HAWKS,  EAGLES,  ETC.  197 

east  of  Louisiana.  It  migrates  in  flocks,  sometimes  flying  within  gun- 
shot, and  at  others  so  far  above  the  earth  as  to  be  almost  beyond  the 
bounds  of  vision. 

330.  Rostrhamus  SOCiabilis  (  VieilL).  Everglade  Kite  ;  Snail- 
Hawk.  Ad.  3. — Dark  slate-color;  under,  and  longer  upper  tail-coverts,  and 
base  of  the  tall  white,  tip  of  the  tail  whitish  ;  upper  mandible  much  length- 
ened and  hooked.  9  and  ini. — Upper  parts  black,  tipped  with  rufous;  under 
parts  barred  and  mottled  with  rufous,  black,  and  butty ;  tail  as  in  the  Ad.  $ . 
L.,  18-00;  W.,  14-00;  T.,  7-75;  B.,  1-20. 

Range. — Breeds  from  middle  Florida  southward  to  the  Argentine  Kepublic. 

Nest.,  in  bushes,  among  reeds  or  tall  grasses.  Eggs^  two  to  three,  pale  blu- 
ish white,  heavily  spotted,  blotched,  or  washed  with  cinnamon  or  chocolate, 
1-85  X  1-47. 

This  species  is  a  summer  resident  in  southern  Florida.  It  arrives 
from  the  south  in  February.  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  writes  of  it  as  ob- 
served at  Lake  Panasofkee,  Florida :  "  Their  food  at  this  point  appar- 
ently consists  of  a  kind  of  large,  fresh-water  snail,  which  is  very  abun- 
dant, and  the  local  name  of  '  Snail-Hawk '  is  particularly  applicable 
to  this  bird  as  1  have  met  with  it.  They  fish  over  the  shallow  water, 
reminding  one  of  Gulls  in  their  motions ;  and  having  secured  a  snail 
by  diving,  they  immediately  carry  it  to  the  nearest  available  perch, 
where  the  animal  is  dexterously  taken  from  the  shell  without  injury 
to  the  latter  "  (Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  vi,  1881,  p.  16). 

331.  Circus  hudsonius  (Linn.).    Marsh  Hawk  ;  Harrier.    Ad.  $  .— 

Upper  parts  gray  or  ashy  ;  upper  tail-coverts  white  ;  tail  silvery  gray,  irregu- 
larly barred  or  marked  with  blackish ;  upper  breast  pearl-gray ;  the  lower 
breast  and  belly  white,  spotted  or  barred  with  rufous.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts 
fuscous,  the  head  and  neck  streaked,  and  the  wing-coverts  spotted  or  margined 
with  rufous ;  longer  upper  tail-coverts  lohite  ;  middle  tail-feathers  barred  with 
ashy  and  black,  others  barred  with  ochraceous-buff  and  black ;  under  parts 
ochraceous-buff,  widely  streaked  on  the  breast  and  narrowly  streaked  on  the 
belly  with  fuscous  or  light  umber.  Im. — Similar  to  the  9  ,  but  somewhat 
darker  above;  the  under  parts  darker,  almost  rufous;  the  belly  without 
streaks.  3  L.,  19-00;  W.,  13-75;  T.,  9-00;  B.  from  N.,  -60.  9  L.,  22-00;  W., 
15-00 ;  T.,  10-00. 

Range. — North  America  in  general,  south  to  Panama. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  July  to  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common 
S.  E.,  Mch.  6  to  Oct.  80 ;  a  few  winter.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  15 
to  Apl.  15 ;  Sept.  and  Oct. ;  a  few  breed. 

Nest.,  on  the  ground,  in  marshes.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  dull  white  or  pale 
bluish  white,  1*75  x  1-40. 

This  Hawk  is  essentially  a  bird  of  the  unwooded  country,  and  we 
might  as  well  look  for  a  Grouse  in  the  open  marsh  as  for  a  Harrier  in 
the  thick  woods.     It  flies  low,  and  may  be  easily  identified  by  the  large 


198 


FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,   ETC. 


white  patch  on  its  rump.  Quartering  the  country  with  slow  vacillating 
flight,  it  usually  captures  its  living  prey  by  surprising  it  away  from 
its  retreats. 

The  Harrier  is  a  low-perching  Hawk,  and  most  frequently  will 
be  seen  alighting  on  a  slight  elevation  or  in  the  grass.  During  the 
nesting  season  the  male  may  be  seen  endeavoring  to  win  the  admira- 
tion of  the  principal  spectator  by  performing  a  number  of  extraor- 
dinary aerial  evolutions.  Sometimes  he  soars  to  a  great  height, 
then  falls  straight  downward  nearly  to  the  ground,  turning  several 
somersaults  during  the  descent,  and  uttering  at  the  same  time  a  re- 
iterated screeching.  At  other  times  he  flies  across  the  marsh  in  a 
course  which  would  outline  a  gigantic  saw,  each  of  the  descending 
parts  being  done  in  a  somersault  and  accompanied  by  the  screeching 
notes,  which  form  the  only  love  song  within  the  range  of  his  limited 
■/ocal  powers. — Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

"  Of  124  stomachs  examined,  7  contained  poultry,  or  game  birds ; 
84,  other  birds;  57,  mice;  22,  other  mammals;  7,  reptiles;  2,  frogs; 
14,  insects ;  1,  indeterminate  matter,  and  8  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

333.  Accipiter  velox  (  Wils.).    Shaep-shinned  Hawk.    Ad. — Upper 

parts  slaty  gray ;  primaries  barred  with  hlaclcisJi ;  tail  nearly  square.,  ashy 

gray,  with  blackish  cross-bars  and  a  whit- 
ish tip ;  throat  white,  streaked  with  black- 
ish ;  rest  of  under  parts  barred  with  white 
and  ochraceous-butf  or  pale  rufous.  Im. — 
Upper  parts  fuscous,  margined  with  rufous  ; 
primaries  and  tail  much  as  in  the  ad. ;  un- 
der parts  white  or  buffy  white,  streaked  or 
spotted  with  blackish  or  pale  rufous-brown. 
3  L.,  11-25 ;  W.,  6-60 ;  T.,  5-50 ;  B.  from  N., 
•40.      9  L.,  13-50;  W.,  8-00;  T.,  Y'OO. 

RemarTcs. — This  species  very  closely  re- 
sembles Cooper's  Hawk.  In  adult  plumage 
the  black  cap  characterizes  that  species,  but 
immature  birds  may  be  distinguished  only 
by  size  and  the  difference  in  the  shape  of 
thfc  tail,  which  in  velox  is  nearly  square,  and  in  cooperi  decidedly  rounded. 

Range. — Breeds  throughout  the  United  States,  and  winters  from  Massa- 
chusetts to  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  P.  R.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  R.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon T.  v.,  Apl.  15  to  Apl.  30 ;  Sept.  and  Oct. ;  rare  S.  R.,  uncommon  W.  V. 

JShst.,  in  trees,  fifteen  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  three  to  six, 
varying  from  bluish  white  to  pale  cream-buff",  distinctly  spotted,  heavily 
blotched,  or  even  washed  with  chocolate  or  cinnamon-rufous,  1-55  x  1-20. 

The  generally  misapplied  names  "  Hen  Hawk "  and  "  Chicken 
Hawk  "  should  be  restricted  to  the  birds  of  this  genus,  for  they  de- 


FiG.  67.— Square  tail  of   Sharp 
shinned  Hawk. 


FALCONS,  HAWKS,  EAGLES,  ETC. 


199 


serve  the  reputation  commonly  attributed  to  the  large  Hawks  of  the 
genus  Buteo. 

The  Sharp-shinned  Hawk  differs  decidedly  in  habits  from  the 
mouse-  or  insect-eating  species,  which  watch  for  their  prey  from  a 
lookout  and  capture  it  on  the  ground.  It  is  a  fearless,  daring,  ag- 
gressive bird,  and  flying  swiftly,  rather  low,  either  in  the  open  or 
through  woods,  it  makes  sudden  dashes  at  the  frightened  birds,  which 
hurry  to  cover  to  escape  its  talons.  One  hears  a  commotion  among 
the  birds ;  calls  of  alarm,  and  a  dark  form  darts  through  the  foliage 
in  close  pursuit,  or,  missing  its  aim,  alights  in  the  center  of  some 
thickly  leaved  tree,  there  to  await  in  silence  a  fresh  opportunity. 
Sometimes  it  may  be  seen  soaring  in  narrow  circles,  when  its  dispro- 
portionately long  tail  forms  a  good  field  character. 

It  is  usually  a  voiceless  bird  except  daring  the  nesting  season,  when 
a  too  close  approach  to  its  nest  causes  it  to  utter  its  peculiar  notes. 

"  Of  159  stomachs  examined,  6  contained  poultry  or  game  birds ; 
99,  other  birds ;  6,  mice ;  5,  insects ;  and  52  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

333.  Accipiter  cooperi  {Bonap.).  Cooper's  Hawk.  ^4(/.— Similar 
to  adults  of  the  preceding,  but  larger  and  with  the  crown  blackish.  Im. — 
Similar  in  color  to  young  of  A. 
velox,  but  larger.  S  L.,  16'50; 
W.,  9-50;  T.,  7-Y5;  B.  from  N.,  -55. 
5  L.,  19-00  ;  W.,  10-60  ;  T.,  9-00. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  to  Newfoundland,  and 
winters  from  Massachusetts  to 
Mexico. 

Washington,  common  P.  E. 
Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  P.  E. 
Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  Apl. ; 
Sept.  and  Oct.  ;  not  uncommon 
S.  E. ;  rare  W.  V. 

Aes^,  in  trees,  twenty-five  to 
fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  -Eggs., 
three  to  six,  pale  bluish  white, 
sometimes  lightly  spotted  with 
brownish,  1-90  x  1-55. 

This  species  resembles  the  preceding  in  habits,  but  because  of  its 
larger  size  is  more  destructive  to  poultry. 

"  Of  133  stomachs  examined,  34  contained  poultry  or  game  birds ; 
52,  other  birds;  11,  mammals;  1,  frog;  3,  lizards;  2,  insects;  and  39 
were  empty  "  (Fisher), 

334*  Accipiter  atricapiUus  (  Wils.).  American  Goshawk.  Ad. — 
Upper  parts  bluish  slate-color ;  head  blackish,  a  white  line  over  and  behind 


Fio 


Rounded  tail  of  Cooper's  Hawk. 


200  FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES.   ETC. 

the  eye  ;  inner  tail-feathers  like  the  back,  outer  ones  more  fuscous,  and  slightly 
marked  with  blackish  ;  tip  whitish ;  entire  under  parts  evenly  marked  with 
irregular,  wavy  bars  of  gray  and  white,  the  feathers  of  the  throat  and  breast 
with  darker  shaft  streaks.  Im. — Upper  parts  fuscous,  margined  with  rufous; 
primaries  barred  with  black ;  tail  brownish  gray,  barred  with  black ;  under 
parts  white  or  butty,  streaked  with  black.  5  L.,  22-00;  W.,  13-00;  T.,  10-00; 
B.  from  N.,  -65.     9  L.,  24-00 ;  W.,  13-40 ;  T.,  11-50. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  northern  United  States  northward,  and  winters 
as  far  south  as  Virginia. 

Washington,  casual  in  winter.  Sing  Sing,  rare  W.  V.,  Oct.  10  to  Jan.  14. 
Cambridge,  irregular  and  uncommon  W.  V. 

iVes^,  in  trees.  Eggs^  two  to  five,  "  white,  or  glaucous-white,  sometimes 
very  faintly  marked  with  pale  brownish,  2-31  x  1-74"  (Ridgw.). 

With  tlie  general  habits  of  the  two  preceding  species  this  larger 
bird  is  much  bolder  than  either.  Dr.  Fisher  remarks :  "  This  species 
is  one  of  the  most  daring  of  all  the  Hawks,  and  while  in  pursuit  of 
its  prey  is  apparently  less  concerned  by  the  presence  of  man  than  any 
other.  It  will  dart  down  unexpectedly  at  the  very  feet  of  the  farmer 
and  carry  off  a  fowl." 

"  Of  28  stomachs  examined,  9  contained  poultry  or  game  birds ;  2, 
other  birds ;  10,  mammals ;  3,  insects ;  1,  centiped ;  and  8  were  empty  " 
(Fisherj.  • 

337.  Buteo  boreailis  (Gmel.).  Eed-tailed  Hawk;  Hen  Hawk; 
Chicken  Hawk.  Ad. —  Upper  parts  dark  grayish  brown  or  fuscous-brown, 
more  or  less  edged  with  rufous,  ochraceous-buft,  and  whitish  ;  four  outer  pri- 
maries "  notched,"  the  outer  one  not  regularly  barred ;  wing-coverts  not  edged 
with  rufous ;  tail  rich  rufous.^  with  a  narrow  black  band  near  its  end  and  a 
white  tip ;  upper  breast  heavily  streaked  with  grayish  brown  and  ochraceous- 
bufi",  lower  breast  lightly  streaked  and  sometimes  without  streaks;  uppcv 
belly  streaked,  spotted,  or  barred  with  black  or  blackish,  forming  a  kind  of 
broken  band  across  the  belly ;  lower  belly  generally  white  without  streaks. 
Im. — Similar,  but  the  tail  of  about  the  same  color  as  the  back,  crossed  by 
numerous  more  or  less  distinct  blackish  bands ;  no  rufous  in  the  markings  of 
the  under  parts.  6  L.,  20-00 ;  W.,  15-50 ;  T.,  9-25  ;  B.  from  N.,  -95.  9  L.,  23-00 ; 
W.,  16-50;  T.,  9-75. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  throughout  most  of  its  range. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  rare  S.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  R. ;  less 
common  in  winter.     Cambridge,  common  W.  V.,  Nov.  to  Apl. ;  a  few  S.  E. 

Nest^  in  trees,  thirty  to  seventy  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  two  to  four, 
dull  white,  generally  scantily  and  irregularly  marked  with  shades  of  cinna- 
mon-brown, 2-40  X  1-85. 

The  Red-tailed  Hawk  resembles  its  near  relative,  the  Red-shoul- 
dered Hawk,  in  the  selection  of  its  haunts,  and,  to  a  large  extent,  in 
habits.  It  is  to  be  distinguished  in  life  from  that  species  by  its  larger 
size,  which,  even  in  the  field,  is  noticeable,  and  by  its  call.     The  usual 


FALCONS,  HAWKS,   EAGLES,   ETC.  201 

note  of  the  Red-tail  is  a  long-drawn  "  squealing "  whistle,  which  to 
my  ear  suggests  the  sound  produced  by  escaping  steam. 

"  Of  562  stomachs  examined,  54  contained  poultry  or  game  birds ; 
51,  other  birds;  278,  mice;  131,  other  mammals;  37,  batrachians  or 
reptiles ;  47,  insects ;  8,  crawfish ;  1,  centiped  ;  13,  offal ;  and  89  were 
empty  "  (Fisher). 

337a.  B.  b.  kriderii  Hoopes.  Krider's  Hawk. — Similar  to  Buteo 
borealis,  but  with  much  more  white  in  the  plumage ;  the  head  sometimes 
almost  entirely  white ;  the  under  parts  only  lightly  streaked,  and  with  the 
band  on  the  belly  sometimes  obsolete ;  the  tail  in  the  ad.  pale  rufous,  gen- 
erally without  a  terminal  black  band ;  in  the  im.,  pale  rufous,  or  white  washed 
with  rufous,  and  with  numerous  blackish  bars.     3  W.,  15-00 ;  T,,  9-50. 

Ba7ige. — "  Great  plains  of  the  United  States,  from  Minnesota  to  Texas ; 
east  irregularly  or  casually  to  Iowa  and  northern  Illinois  "  (Bendire). 

33'7d.  B.  b.  harlani  (Aud.).  Harlan's  Hawk.  Ad. — Upper  parts 
dark  sooty  fuscous,  the  bases  of  the  feathers  more  or  less  barred  with  gray- 
ish ;  tail  closely  mottled  with  black,  fuscous,  rufous,  and  whitish  ;  under  parts 
varying  from  white  more  or  less  spotted  across  the  belly  to  sooty  fuscous. 
Im. — Similar,  but  the  tail  barred  with  blackish,  grayish,  rufous,  or  whitish, 
tipped  with  white.  6  L.,  about  19-00;  W.,  16-50;  T.,  8-25.  9  L.,  about  21.00; 
W.,  17-00;  T.,  9-25. 

Range. — "  Gulf  States  and  lower  Mississippi  Valley ;  north  (casually)  to 
Kansas,  Iowa,  Illinois,  and  Pennsylvania ;  east  to  Georgia  and  Florida  "  (Ben- 
dire). 

Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  in  Captain  Bendire's  Life  Histories  of  North 
American  Birds  (p.  218),  reports  this  species  as  not  uncommon  during 
the  winter  in  St.  John's  and  Putnam  Counties,  Florida.  He  writes : 
*'  They  are  exactly  like  the  Red-tailed  Hawks  except  in  color,  and  their 
call-note  is  the  same,  only  being  longer  drawn  out.  The  call  of  the 
latter  bird,  as  already  stated,  sounds  like  the  squealing  of  a  pig,  or 
•  A-ce-ee-e,'  and  that  of  Harlan's  Hawk  like  '  kee-ee-ee-e-e-ee.'' ' 

The  Western  Eedtail  {8S7b.  B.  h.  calurus)  has  been  recorded  from  Illi- 
nois, and  one  specimen  of  the  European  Buzzard  (S36.  Buteo  huteo)  is  said  to 
have  been  taken  in  Michigan. 

339*  Buteo  lineatus  ( Gmel.).  Eed-shouldered  Hawk  ;  Hen  Hawk  ; 
Chicken  Hawk.  Ad. — Upper  parts  dark  grayish  fuscous-brown,  more  or  less 
edged  with  rufous,  ochraceous  -  buif,  and  whitish ;  four  outer  primaries 
"notched,"  all  barred  with  black  and  white;  lesser  wing-coverts  rufous., 
forming  a  conspicuous  "  shoulder  "  patch  ;  tail  black  or  fuscous,  with  four  or 
five  white  cross-bars  and  a  white  tip ;  throat  streaked  with  blackish  ;  rest  of 
under  parts  rufous  or  ochraceous- buff,  everywhere  barred  with  white  or 
whitish,  Im. — Upper  parts  much  as  in  the  adult;  basal  part  of  the  primaries 
mostly  ochraceous-buff.,  fading  to  whitish  on  the  inner  web,  with  broken  bars 
of  fuscous ;  lesser  wing-coverts  conspicuously  margined  with  rufous  or  rufous- 
chestnut  ;  tail  dark  grayish  brown,  indistinctly  barred  with  fuscous,  and  on 


202  FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,  ETC. 

the  basal  half  with  more  or  less  rufous,  the  inner  webs  of  the  feathers  with 
sometimes  white  bars ;  under  parts  white  or  whitish,  streaked  or  spotted  with 
black  or  blackish,  the  legs  sometimes  barred  with  rufous.  $  L.,  18-30 ;  W., 
12o0,  T.,  8-00;  B.  from  N.,  -75.      9  L.,  20-35:  W.,  13-50;  T.,  9-00. 


Fig.  69.— Four-notched  primaries  of  Red-shouldered  Hawk.    (Reduced.) 

RemarTcs. — Adults  of  this  species  may  always  be  known  by  the  rich  rufous 
lesser  wing-coverts.  Immature  birds  are  sometimes  confused  with  the  young 
of  the  Eed-tailed  or  Broad-winged  Hawks.  From  the  former  they  may  be 
distinguished  by  their  small  size,  rufous  margins  of  the  lesser  wing-coverts 
ochraceous-buff  markings  on  the  primaries,  and  the  continuously  streaked 
under  parts ;  from  the  latter  they  differ  in  having  four  instead  of  three  outer 
primaries  "  notched,"  in  being  larger,  and  in  having  ochraceous-butf  on  the 
primaries. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  north  to  Nova  Scotia  and  Manitoba ;  resi- 
dent nearlj^  throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  common  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  F.  R.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon P.  R.,  less  common  in  winter. 

Nest.,  in  trees,  thirty  to  sixty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  three  to  six, 
dull  white,  generally  more  or  less  sprinkled,  spotted,  or  blotched  with  cinna- 
mon-brown or  chocolate,  2*15  x  1-65. 

The  present  species  and  the  Red-tailed  Hawk  are  the  birds  to  which 
the  names  Chicken  Hawk  and  Hen  Hawk  are  most  frequently  misap- 
plied. Being  both  common  species  whose  habits  render  them  easily 
observed,  they  are  often  unjustly  made  to  suffer  for  the  sins  of  their 
bird-killing  relatives  of  the  genus  Accipiter. 

The  farmer  sees  a  Hawk  sailing  in  wide  circles  above  him,  uttering 
its  fierce,  screaming  cry  of  kee-you,  kee-you.  While  he  is  watching  it 
a  sly,  low-flying  Accipiter  slips  by  him  and  makes  a  sudden  dash  into 
the  poultry  yard.  The  farmer  does  not  discriminate;  a  Hawk  is  a 
Hawk,  and,  shaking  his  fist  at  the  bird  in  the  air,  he  vows  vengeance 
at  the  first  opportunity. 

The  Red-shouldered  Hawk  is  at  most  times  of  the  year  a  bird  of 
the  woods.  Particularly  does  it  like  low  woods  watered  with  small 
streams  from  which  it  can  obtain  its  favorite  food  of  frogs.  Its  note 
is  one  of  the  common  sounds  of  summer,  and  can  be  heard  when  the 
bird  is  almost  lost  to  sight  far  up  in  the  sky.  It  is  frequently  imi- 
tated by  the  Blue  Jay. 


FALCONS,  HAWKS,  EAGLES,  ETC.       ^OS 

"  Of  220  stomachs  examined,  3  contained  poultry ;  12,  other  birds ; 
102,  mice ;  40,  other  mammals ;  20,  reptiles ;  39,  batrachians ;  92,  in- 
sects ;  16,  spiders ;  7,  crawfish ;  1,  earthworms ;  2,  offal ;  3,  fish ;  and 
14  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

339a.  B.  1.  alleni  Ridgw.  Florida  Eed-shouldered  Hawk. — Adults 
of  this  species  may  easily  be  distinguished  from  those  of  B.  Uneatus  by  their 
smaller  size,  grayish  white  head,  with  black  shaft  streaks  and  no  rufous,  the 
smaller  fuscous  tips  on  the  scapulars  and  interscapulars,  which  do  not  con- 
ceal the  ashy  gray  bases  of  the  feathers,  by  the  whitish  or  grayish  cheeks 
and  throat,  and  the  ochraceous-bulf,  indistinctly  barred  under  parts.  Im- 
mature birds  are  very  similar  to  those  of  JB.  Uneatus,  and  can  be  distin- 
guished only  by  their  smaller  size  and  darker  color.  3  W.,  11-00 ;  T.,  T'SO ; 
B.,  1-20. 

Range. — Florida,  north  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  South  Carolina,  west 
along  the  Gulf  coast  to  eastern  Texas. 

342*  Buteo  swainsoni  Bonap.  Swainson's  Hawk.  Ad.  $  . — Upper 
parts  fuscous-brown,  more  or  less  margined  with  rufous  or  huffy ;  primaries 
unbarred.^  three  outer  ones  "  notched " ;  tail  slightly  grayer  than  the  back, 
with  numerous  indistinct,  blackish  bars  showing  more  plainly  on  the  under 
surface ;  breast  covered  by  a  large,  cinnamon-rufous  patch  ;  belly  white  or 
ochraceous-buff',  streaked,  spotted,  or  barred  with  blackish,  rufous,  or  buff. 
Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  larger,  the  breast  patch  of  the  same  color  as  the  back. 
4  and  9  in  darh  or  melanistic  plumage. — Entire  plumage  fuscous,  the  under 
tail-  and  under  wing-coverts  and  the  tail  sometimes  spotted  or  barred.  Im. — 
Upper  parts  fuscous-brown,  widely  margined  with  buffy  and  rufous;  base  of 
the  primaries  grayish,  and  sometimes  with  a  few  broken  bars ;  tail  much  as  in 
the  ad. ;  under  parts  ochraceous-buff,  spotted  and  streaked  with  blackish.  3  L., 
20-00  ;  W.,  15-00  ;  T.,  8-50  ;  B.  from  N.,  -75. 

RemarJcs. — Between  the  light  and  dark  phases  of  coloration  there  is  every 
degree  of  intergradation,  but  in  any  plumage  this  Hawk  may  be  distinguished 
from  our  other  species  by  having  only  three  outer  pri^naries  notched.  In  this 
respect  it  agrees  with  B.  latissimus,  from  which,  however,  it  differs  decidedly 
both  in  size  and  color. 

Range.— y^estern  North  America,  eastward  to  the  Mississippi;  breeds 
from  Texas  to  the  arctic  regions,  and  occasionally  strays  eastward  to  the  At- 
lantic States. 

JVest,  in  trees,  thirty  to  eighty  feet  from  the  ground,  ^ggs^  two  to  three, 
varying  from  dull  bluish  white  to  creamy  white,  sometimes  unmarked,  but 
generally  more  or  less  spotted  or  blotched  with  shades  of  cinnamon-brown, 
2-30  X  1-72. 

Swainson's  Hawk  is  of  rare  occurrence  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Dr. 
Fisher  writes :  "  By  preference  it  frequents  the  timber  in  the  vicinity 
of  streams,  though  often  it  is  found  far  out  on  the  prairie,  where  its 
only  perch  is  the  earth  mound  of  some  mammal,  or  some  other 
slightly  elevated  knoll." 


204  FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,  ETC. 

343.  Buteo  latissimus  ( Wils.).  Broad-winged  Hawk.  Ad.-~ 
Upper  parts  dark  grayish  brown  or  fuscous,  more  or  less  margined  with  buffy 
and  rufous :  three  outer  primaries  "  notched  "  and  without  ochraceous-buff 

markings ;  tail  fus- 
cous, with  two  bars 
and  the  •  tip  grayish 
white  ;  under  parts 
heavily  barred  with 
brownish  ochraceous- 

FiG.  70.— Three-notched  primaries  of  Broad-winged  "^"-  ^*^-  Upper 
Hawk.    (Reduced.)  parts    like    the    pre- 

ceding ;  tail  grayish 
brown,  with  three  to  five  indistinct  black  bars  and  a  narrow  whitish  tip ; 
under  parts  white  or  buffy  white,  streaked  and  spotted  with  fuscous.  $  L., 
15-89  ;  W.,  10-68  ;  T.,  6-75  :  B.  from  N.,  -70.      9  L.,  16-76  ;  W.,  11-41 ;  T.,  7-09. 

Iie7nar]cs. — Compared  with  the  other  members  of  this  genus,  the  three 
"  notched "  primaries  and  small  size  are  the  principal  characters  of  this 
Hawk. 

Range. — Breeds  throughout  eastern  North  America,  from  New  Brunswick 
southward. 

Washington,  not  common  W.  V.,  rare  S.  E.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common 
S.  K.,  Mch.  15  to  Oct.  23.  Cambridge,  T.  V.,  sometimes  common  in  Sept.; 
rare  in  spring. 

Nest.,  in  trees,  twenty-five  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  two  to  four, 
dull  white  or  bufi'y  white  spotted,  blotched,  or  washed  with  ochraceous-buff 
or  cinnamon-brown,  2-10  x  1-60. 

"  Of  all  our  Hawks,  this  species  seems  to  be  the  most  unsuspicious, 
often  allowing  a  person  to  approach  within  a  few  yards  of  it,  and 
when  startled  flies  but  a  short  distance  before  it  alights  again.  Dur- 
ing the  early  summer  the  Broad-winged  Hawk  often  may  be  seen  sit- 
ting for  hours  on  the  dead  top  of  some  high  tree.  At  other  times  it 
is  found  on  the  smaller  trees  in  the  deep  woods,  along  streams,  or  on 
the  ground,  where  its  food  is  more  often  procured.  Although  slug- 
gish and  unusually  heavy  in  its  flight,  it  is  capable  of  rapid  motion, 
and  sometimes  soars  high  in  the  air.  One  of  its  notes  resembles  quite 
closely  that  of  the  Wood  Pewee.  ... 

"  Of  65  stomachs  examined,  2  contained  small  birds ;  15,  mice ;  13, 
other  mammals;  11,  reptiles;  13,  batrachians;  30,  insects;  2,  earth- 
worms ;  4,  crawfish  ;  and  7  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

344.  Buteo  brachyurus  Vieill.  Short  -  tailed  Hawk.  Ad.— 
Upper  parts  slaty  gray  or  fuscous  grayish  brown ;  forehead  whitish ;  tail 
barred  with  black  and  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  its  under  surface  grayish ; 
sides  of  the  breast  with  some  rufous-brown  markings ;  rest  of  the  under  parts 
fure  white.  Im. — Similar,  but  upper  parts  browner  and  margined  with 
cream-buff;  under  parts  washed  with  cream-buff;  no  rufous-brown  on  the 
breast.    Bark  phase. — Fuscous- black.,  with  a  slight  metallic  luster  ;  forehead 


FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,   ETC.  205 

whitish  ;  tail  lighter  than  back,  barred  with  black,  its  under  surface  and  the 
under  surface  of  the  primaries  grayish.  L.,  17-00 ;  W.,  12-50  ;  T.,  7-00  ;  Tar., 
2-35 ;  B.  from  N.,  -70. 

Range. — Florida  and  Mexico  southward  through  South  America. 

Nest,  in  trees.  Eggs  (?),  dull  white,  spotted  at  the  larger  end  with  small 
spots  and  blotches  of  reddish  brown  over  about  one  fourth  the  surface,  2-16  x 
161  (Pennock). 

A  rare  resident  in  Florida.  According  to  Mr.  C.  J.  Pennock,  who 
found  its  nest  at  St.  Marks  on  April  3,  its  call  somewhat  resembler 
the  scream  of  the  Red-shouldered  Hawk,  but  is  finer  and  more  pro- 
longed (Auk,  vii,  1890,  p.  56 ;  see  also  Scott,  ibid.,  vi,  1889,  p.  243). 

The  Mexican  Goshawk  i^SJ^G.  Asturina  plagiata)  is  a  tropical  species 
which  reaches  the  southwestern  border  of  the  United  States.  An  individual 
seen  by  Mr.  Robert  Kidgway  in  southern  Illinois,  August  19, 1871,  is  the  only 
known  instance  of  its  occurrence  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

347a.  Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis  {Gmel.).  Ameri- 
can KouGH-LEGGED  Hawk.  Ad..^  light  phase. — Upper  parts  fuscous-brown, 
margined  with  whitish  and  ochraceous-buff;  inner  vanes  of  the  primaries 
white  at  the  base  ;  basal  half  of  the  tail  white  or  buffy.,  end  with  two  or  three 
grayish  or  whitish  bars ;  under  parts  varying  from  white  to  ochraceous-buft, 
streaked  and  spotted  with  black,  these  marks  uniting  to  form  a  broken  band 
across  the  belly  ;  front  o^  tarsi  entirely  feathered.  Im..,  normal  phase. — Simi- 
lar to  the  ad.,  but  the  end  half  of  the  tail  without  bars  except  for  the  white 
tip,  the  under  parts  more  heavily  marked  with  black,  the  belly  band  being 
broad  and  continuous.  Black  phase. — Plumage  more  or  less  entirely  black, 
the  primaries  and  tail  barred  with  whitish  and  grayish.  L.,  22-00  ;  W.,  16-00 ; 
T.,  9-60. 

Bemarhs. — Its  feathered  tarsi  and  heavily  marked  under  parts  characterize 
this  species. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  north  of  the  United  States  and  winter- 
ing as  far  south  as  Virginia. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  A.  V.  Cambridge,  not 
uncommon  T.  V.,  Nov. ;  Mch. ;  a  few  winter. 

Nest.,  on  rocky  ledges  or  in  trees.  Eggs.,  two  to  five,  dull  white,  sometimes 
unmarked,  but  generally  more  or  less  spotted,  blotched,  or  scrawled  with  cin- 
namon-brown or  chocolate,  2-20  x  1-75. 

"  The  Rough-leg  is  one  of  the  most  nocturnal  of  our  Hawks,  and 
may  be  seen  in  the  fading  twilight  watching  from  some  low  perch  or 
beating  with  measured,  noiseless  flight  over  its  hunting  ground.  It 
follows  two  very  different  methods  in  securing  its  food — one  by  sitting 
on  some  stub  or  low  tree  and  watching  the  ground  for  the  appearance 
of  its  prey,  as  the  Red-tail  does ;  the  other  by  beating  back  and  forth 
just  above  the  tops  of  the  grass  or  bushes  and  dropping  upon  its  vic- 
tim, after  the  manner  of  the  Marsh  Hawk.  .  .  . 

"  The  flight  of  the  Rough-leg  is  seldom  rapid  and  often  appears 


206 


FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,   ETC. 


labored,  and  when  on  the  wing  this  Hawk  resembles  the  Osprey  more 
than  any  other  bird  of  prey.  .  .  . 

"  Of  49  stomachs  examined,  40  contained  mice ;  5,  other  mammals ; 
1,  lizards ;  1,  insects ;  and  4  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

348.  Archibuteo  ferrugineus  (Licht.).  Ferruginous  Rough-leg. 
Ad.^  light  phase. — Upper  parts  mostly  rufous,  the  centers  of  the  feathers  fus 
ecus ;  tail  grayish  white,  margined  with  rufous ;  legs  rufous,  barred  with  black  , 
rest  of  under  parts  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  rufous  on  the  sides  and 
belly;  tarsi  fully  feathered  in  front,  /m. — Upper  parts  dark  grayish  brown, 
slightly  varied  with  ochraceous-butf ;  tail  silvery  grayish  brown,  without  bars, 
the  base  white ;  under  parts  white,  lightly  spotted  and  streaked  with  fuscous. 
Dark  phase. — Dark  fuscous-brown,  more  or  less  varied  with  rufous  ;  prima- 
ries and  tail  as  in  the  ad.     L.,  23-00 ;  W.,  17-00 ;  T.,  10-50. 

I{emar]cs.^'T:h\.&  species  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  preceding  prin- 
cipally by  its  much  larger  bill  and  diflerently  colored  tail  and  under  parts. 

Range. — "  Western  United  States;  east  to  and  across  the  great  plains  (oc- 
casionally to  Illinois) ;  north  to  the  Saskatchewan ;  south  into  Mexico  "  (Ben- 
dire). 

Nest.^  in  trees  or  on  the  ground  in  rocky  places.  Eggs.,  two  to  four, "  white, 
or  buffy  white,  usually  more  or  less  spotted,  blotched,  or  clouded  with  brown 
or  grayish  purple  (or  both),  2-42  x  1-88"  (Kidgw.). 

This  bird  is  rarely  found  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Dr.  Fisher  re- 
marks :  "  The  Squirrel  Hawk  is  pre-eminently  a  bird  of  the  prairie, 

and,  unlike  the  common  Rough-leg, 
shows  little  partiality  to  the  vicinity 
of  water,  though  in  other  respects  it 
closely  resembles  the  latter  bird  in 
habits." 

349.  Aqiulachrysaetos(Z^n7j..). 

Golden  Eagle.  Ad. — Back  of  the  head 
and  nape  pale,  buify  ochraceous ;  basal 
two  thirds  of  the  tail  white ;  tarsus  white, 
entirely  feathered ;  rest  of  the  plumage 
fuscous  -  brown  ;  quills  fuscous.  Im. — 
Similar,  but  base  of  the  tail  with  broken 
grayish  bars  ;  tarsus  and  under  tail- 
coverts  ochraceous-buff.  ^  L.,  30-00- 
35-00;  Ex.,  78-00-84-00;  W..  23-00-24-70;  T., 
14-00-15-00;  Tar.,  3-65-3-80.  9  L.,  35-00- 
40-00;  Ex.,  84-00-90-00;  W.,  25-00-27-00; 
T.,  15-00-16-00;  Tar.,  4-15-4-25  (Kidgw.). 

Range. — North  America ;  of  rare  occurrence  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

Washington,  rare  W.  V.     Sing  Sing.  A.  V. 

Nest.,  on  cliffs  or  rocky  ledges.  Eggs.,  two  to  tliree,  dull  whiie,  obscurely 
or  distinctly  blotched  or  speckled  with  shades  of  cinnamon-brown,  2-93  x  2-34. 


Fig.  71.— Foot  of  Golden  Eagle. 


FALCONS,  HAWKS,  EAGLES,  ETC. 


207 


"  It  seems  to  be  nowhere  a  common  species  in  the  east,  but  it  is 
much  more  numerous  in  the  mountainous  parts  of  the  far  west.  It  is 
confined  chiefly  to  the  mountains  and  more  northern  latitudes,  where 
it  breeds.  It  is  able  to  endure  intense  cold,  and  sometimes  remains 
far  north  in  winter.  In  fact,  its  movements  at  that  season  are  more 
in  the  form  of  wandering  for  food  than  regular  migration  to  the  south. 

"  The  food  consists  mainly  of  mammals  and  birds,  of  which  sper- 
mophiles,  rabbits,  fawns,  lambs,  turkeys,  grouse,  waterfowl,  and  other 
large  birds  form  the  principal  part,  though  offal  and  carrion  are  some- 
times taken.  ...  Of  6  stomachs  examined,  1  contained  feathers ;  2, 
mammals ;  2,  carrion ;  and  1  was  empty  "  (Fisher). 

351.  Haliseetus  albicilla  {Linn.).    Gray  Sea  Eagle.    Ad. — Tail 

white,  rest  of  plumage  varying  from  grayish  brown  to  fuscous.  Iiu. — "  With 
plumage  largely  light  cinnamon-brown  or  isabella-color.  3  L.,  31"00-34-00 ; 
W.,  23-00-26-00;  T.,  11-50-12-00"  (Eidgw.). 

Range. — Northern  parts  of  the  Old  World;  Greenland. 

Aes^,  on  clifl's  or  in  trees.  Eggs.,  two  to  three,  dull  white,  "  occasionally 
with  small,  faint  spots  of  light  brown"  (Davie),  3-00  x  2-35. 

This  is  a  common  species  in  Greenland. 

352*  Haliseetus  leucocephalus  {Linn.).  Bald  Eagle.  Ad. — 
Head,  neck,  and  tail  white,  rest  of  the  plumage  fuscous ;  bill  yellow ;  tarsus 
not  fully  feathered.  Lm. — Fuscous,  more 
or  less  varied  with  white ;  tail  fuscous, 
more  or  less  mottled  with  white,  particu- 
larly on  the  inner  vanes  of  the  feathers ; 
bill  black.  5  L.,  32-85  ;  Ex.,  84-10 ;  W., 
22-00;  T.,  11-90;  B.,  2-48.  ?  L.,  35-50; 
Ex.,  89-00  ;  W.,  24-00  ;  T.,  12-25  ;  Weight, 
12  lbs. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding 
throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  not  common  P.  R.  Sing 
Sing,  common  P.  E.  Cambridge,  of  ir- 
regular occurrence  at  all  seasons. 

Nest.,  generally  in  tall  trees,  l^ggs, 
two  to  three,  dull  white,  2-85  x  2-20. 

Bald  Eagles  are  seldom  found 
far  from  the  water.  Here  they  may 
be  seen  soaring  overhead,  winging 
their  way  to  and  from  their  feeding 
ground,  or  occupying  some  favorite 
perch,  generally  in  an  exposed  posi- 
tion. They  subsist  principally  upon  fish.  As  a  last  resort  they  some- 
times capture  these  themselves,  but  dead  fish  cast  up  on  the  shore 


Fig.  72.— Foot  of  Bald  Eagle. 


208  FALCONS,  HAWKS,  EAGLES,  ETC. 

are  eagerly  taken,  and  their  habit  of  robbing  the  Fish  Hawk  of  his 
well-earned  booty  is  too  well  known  to  be  commented  upon.  In  some 
localities,  particularly  in  the  south  during  the  winter,  they  live  largely 
upon  water-fowl  which  they  capture  themselves. 

The  voice  of  the  Bald  Eagle  has  a  weird,  human  quality.  Dr. 
Fisher  says :  "  At  a  distance  the  note  of  the  Bald  Eagle  is  not  alto- 
gether unpleasant,  resembling  somewhat  that  of  Sea  Gulls,  but  near 
by  it  is  grating  and  suggests  a  maniacal  laugh."  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph 
writes  in  Captain  Bendire's  Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds, 
p.  277 :  "  The  cry  of  the  male  is  a  loud  and  clear  cac-cac-cac,  quite  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  the  female — so  much  so  that  I  could  always  recog- 
nize the  sex  of  the  bird  by  it ;  the  call  of  the  latter  is  more  harsh  and 
often  broken." 

The  conspicuous  white  head  and  tail  of  adults  of  this  species  render 
it  easy  of  identification  even  at  a  considerable  distance.  Young  birds 
too  closely  resemble  Golden  Eagles  to  be  distinguished  with  certainty, 
but  the  rarity  of  that  species  in  the  east  makes  it  probable  that  any 
Eagle  observed  is  a  Bald  Eagle. 

353*  Falco  islandus  Brunn.  White  Gyrfalcon.  Ad. — Head  white, 
finely  streaked  with  black  ;  scapulars,  interscapulars,  and  wing-coverts  brown- 
ish gray,  widely  margined  with  white ;  tail  white,  the  central  feathers  with 
sometimes  broken  bars;  under  parts  white,  lightly  streaked  with  grayish 
brown;  under  tail-coverts  white.  /m.^Similar,  but  upper  parts  with  nar- 
rower white  fnargins ;  tail  barred  with  brownish  gray,  under  parts  heavily 
streaked  with  the  same  color.     L.,  22-00 ;  W.,  16-00 ;  T.,  10-00 ;  B.  from  N.,  -95. 

Range.  Arctic  regions  ;  casually  south  in  winter  to  Maine. 

Nest.,  on  rocky  cliffs,  ^^^s,  three  to  four,  varying  from  creamy  white, 
spotted  or  blotched  with  cinnamon-brown,  to  uniform  pale  reddish  brown, 
spotted  or  blotched  with  shades  of  the  same  color,  2-30  x  1-85. 

"  The  food  consists  of  water-fowl  and  other  birds — largely  of  vari- 
ous arctic  species  of  Grouse  which  are  captured  on  the  wing.  All 
these  northern  Falcons  were  formerly  esteemed  for  hawking,  as  they 
still  are  by  the  Mongol  races ;  their  style  of  flight  is  magnificent— much 
swifter  than  that  of  the  Peregrine — and  both  are  deadly  '  footers ' 
(i.  e.,  tenacious  of  grip),  but  they  lack  spirit  and  dash"  (Saunders). 

354.  Fa/lco  rusticolus  Linn.  Gray  Gyrfalcon.  Ad. — Upper  parts 
grayish  fuscous,  barred  and  margined  with  butfy  white ;  tail  with  numerous 
bars  of  the  same  colors;  under  parts  white,  streaked  and  spotted  with  black- 
ish ;  legs  and  under  tail-coverts  barred  with  brownish  gray.  L.,  20-00 ;  W., 
15-50;  T.,  9-50;  B.  from  N.,  -90. 

Range. — Arctic  regions;  in  America,  south  in  winter  to  the  northern 
United  States. 

Nest.,  on  cliffs  or  in  trees.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  not  distinguishable  from 
those  of  the  preceding,  2-3T  x  1-72. 


FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,  ETC.  209 

354a.  F.  r.  gyrfalco  {Linn.).  Gyrfalcon. — Head  streaked  with 
buffy  white  and  fuscous  or  black  ;  back  varying  from  brownish  gray  to  slaty 
fuscous,  witJiout  complete  bars  and  sometimes  entirely  unbarred ;  tail  of  the 
same  color  as  the  back,  with  indistinct  or  incomplete  lighter  bars ;  under 
parts  heavily  streaked  with  whitish  and  fuscous. 

Range. — "  Northern  Europe  and  arctic  America,  from  northern  Labrador 
and  coasts  of  Hudson  Bay  to  Alaska" ;  casually  south  in  winter  to  E.  L 

354b.  F.  r.  obsoletus  {Gmel.).  Black  Gyrfalcon. — Upper  parts 
uniform  slaty  fuscous,  without  bars;  tail  the  same,  without  or  with  only 
broken  bars ;  under  parts  of  the  same  color  as  the  back ;  the  feathers  with 
partly  concealed  butfy  spots. 

Range. — Labrador ;  southward  in  winter,  casually  to  Long  Island. 

RemarJcs. — Gyrfalcons  are  so  rare  in  collections  that  the  descriptions  here 
given  can  not  be  considered  as  applying  to  the  species  as  a  whole,  but  rather 
to  the  individuals  from  which  the  descriptions  were  taken.  F.  islandus  is  the 
lightest  colored,  and  F.  r.  obsoletus  is  the  darkest  of  our  supposed  four  forms, 
while  the  others  are  intermediate  between  these  two. 

355.  Falco  mexicanus  Schleg.  Prairie  Falcon.  Ad. — Above, 
grayish  brown;  primaries  and  inner  webs  of  all  but  the  middle  tail-feathers 
with  numerous  buffy  bars  or  spots ;  below,  white,  streaked  and  spotted  with 
dark  grayish  brown,  hn. — Similar,  but  with  the  upper  parts  margined  with 
ochraceous-buff  or  buffy.     $  L.,  17-00 ;  W.,  12-20 ;  T.,  7-00. 

Range. — Western  United  States,  eastward  casually  to  Illinois. 

Nest.,  on  cliffs,  sometimes  in  hollow  trees.  Fggs.,  two  to  five,  "  creamy 
white,  vinaceous-white,  or  pale  vinaceous- buffy,  sprinkled,  speckled,  or 
irregularly  spotted  with  madder-brown,  2-06  x  1-60"  (Kidgw.). 

"  The  Prairie  Falcon,  as  the  name  implies,  is  a  typical  plains  bird, 
and  inhabits  the  dry  interior.  .  .  . 

"  The  flight  of  this  Hawk  is  swift  and  graceful,  though  in  most 
cases  it  is  carried  on  at  no  great  distance  from  the  ground.  It  is  not 
a  shy  bird,  except  in  sections  where  it  has  been  persecuted  and  has 
learned  that  man  is  its  worst  enemy  "  (Fisher). 

356.  Falco  pere^inus  anatum  {Bonap.).  Duck  Hawk.  Ad.— 
Upper  parts  dark  bluish  slate-color ;  primaries  barred  with  ochraceous ;  tail 
indistinctly  barred  with  blackish  and  tipped  with  white ;  under  parts  cream- 
buff',  barred  and  spotted  with  black,  except  on  the  breast.  Im. — Upper  parts 
fuscous,  more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous  or  rufous ;  region  below  the 
eye  black  ;  ear-coverts  buffy;  wings  as  in  the  ad.;  upper  surface  of  the  tail 
barred  with  grayish,  under  surface  barred  with  ochraceous-buff;  under  parts 
cream-buff  or  ochraceous-buff,  streaked,  spotted,  or  barred  with  black.  $  L., 
16-00;  W.,  12-25;  T.,  6-50;  B.  from  N.,  -68.      9  L.,  19-00;  W.,  14-00;  T.,  7-50. 

Range. — North  America  and  the  greater  part  of  South  America,  breeding 
"ocally  from  our  Southern  States  northward. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  W.  V.     Sing  Sing,  casual.     Cambridge, 
rare  T.  V.,  casual  in  winter. 
15 


210  FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,  ETC. 

JSfest^  on  rocky  cliffs  and  in  the  hollow  limbs  of  tall  trees.  Eggs^  three  to 
four,  varying  from  creamy  white,  heavily  marked  with  cinnamon-brown,  to 
pale  reddish  brown,  more  or  less  marked  with  shades  of  the  same  color, 
2-05  X  1-68. 

This  species  is  the  "  Noble  Peregrine  "  of  falconry.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  imagine  a  bird  more  highly  endowed  with  qualities  which 
make  the  ideal  bird  of  prey.  Its  strength  of  wing  and  talon  is 
equaled  by  its  courage.  No  bird  flies  more  swiftly  than  the  Duck 
Hawk.  Even  Teal — those  winged  bullets — can  not  escape  it.  No 
bird  is  more  daring.  I  have  had  Duck  Hawks  dart  down  to  rob  me 
of  wounded  Snipe  lying  almost  at  my  feet,  nor  did  my  ineffective 
shots  prevent  them  from  returning. 

Duck  Hawks  are  generally  found  near  water,  where  they  prey 
largely  on  water  birds. 

"  Of  20  stomachs  examined,  7  contained  poultry  or  game  birds ;  9, 
other  birds;  1,  mice;  2,  insects;  and  4  were  empty"  (Fisher). 

357.  Falco  columbarius  Linn.     Pigeon  Hawk.     Ad. — Upper  parts 

slaty  blue,  a  broken  butty  or  rusty  collar  on  the  neck  ;  primaries  barred  with 
white ;  tail  with  three  or  four  distinct  grayish  white  bars  and  a  white  tip ; 
under  parts  varying  from  cream-buff  to  deep  ochraceous,  streaked  with  black- 
ish, except  on  the  throat.  Im. — Upper  parts  fuscous  or  brownish  fuscous,  a 
broken  buffy  collar  on  the  nape  ;  primaries  barred  with  ochraceous  ;  tail  with 
three  or  four  incomplete  buffy  bars  and  a  whitish  tip ;  under  parts  much  as 
in  the  ad.    L.,  10-00-13-00  ;  W.,  8-00  ;  T.,  5-50 ;  B.  from  N.,  -45. 

Remarks. — This  little  Falcon  bears  some  resemblance  to  a  Duck  Hawk, 
but  is  much  smaller. 

Range- — Breeds  from  the  northern  United  States  northward ;  winters  from 
the  Southern  States  southward  to  South  America. 

Washington,  not  uncommon  T.  V.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V., 
Apl.  1  to  May  11 ;  Aug.  10  to  Oct.  15.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  10  to 
May  5  ;  Sept.  and  Oct. ;  occasional  in  winter. 

Nest.,  in  trees,  in  hollow  limbs,  or  on  cliffs.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  varying 
from  creamy  white,  more  or  less  heavily  marked  with  reddish  brown  or  choco- 
late, to  reddish  brown  marked  with  shades  of  the  same  color,  1-65  x  1*20. 

"  This  Falcon,  with  the  exception  possibly  of  the  Broad-winged 
Hawk,  is  the  least  shy  of  all  our  diurnal  birds  of  prey,  and  often 
may  be  approached  within  a  few  rods.  It  frequents  the  more  open 
country  and  edges  of  woods,  and  is  common  along  the  shores  of  large 
bodies  of  water.  .  .  . 

"  The  flight  is  very  rapid  and  resembles  that  of  the  Wild  Pigeon 
quite  closely ;  nor  does  the  similarity  end  here,  for  while  sitting  on  a 
tree  the  general  poise  is  that  of  a  Pigeon  in  repose,  and  specimens 
have  been  mistaken  and  shot  for  the  latter  bird.  .  .  . 


Sparrow  Hawk  and  young. 


FALCONS,   HAWKS,  EAGLES,   ETC.  211 

"Of  56  stomachs  examined,  2  contained  poultry;  41,  small  birds; 
2,  mice ;  16,  insects ;  and  5  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

The  Merlijv  {S58.1.  Falco  regulus)  and  the  Kestrel  (S59.1.  Falco  tinnun- 
culus),  both  Old- World  species,  have  each  been  recorded  once  from  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic,  the  Merlin  from  Greenland,  the  Kestrel  from  Massachusetts 
(Cory,  Auk,  v,  1888,  pp.  110,  205;. 

360*  Falco  sparverius  Linn.  American  Sparrow  Hawk.  Ad.  & , 
—Back  rufous,  more  or  less  barred  with  black ;  tail  rufous,  a  black  band  near 
its  end,  the  tip  white ;  head  slaty  blue,  with  generally  a  rufous  spot  on  the 
crown ;  wing-coverts  slaty  blue,  primaries  barred  with  white ;  a  black  mark 
before  and  behind  the  white  ear-coverts ;  under  parts  varying  from  cream- 
butf  to  ochraceous-buff;  belly  and  sides  spotted  with  black.  Ad.  $  . — Back, 
tail,  and  wing-coverts  rufous,  barred  with  black ;  head  as  in  the  male  ;  under 
parts  more  or  less  heavily  streaked  with  dark  ochraceous-butf.  Irn. — Closely 
resemble  the  adults.    L.,  10-00  ;  W.,  7-30 ;  T.,  4-80 ;  B.  from  K,  -45. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Florida  to  Hudson  Bay,  and  winters  from  New  Jer- 
sey southward. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  rare  S.  K.  Sing  Sing,  rather  rare  P.  K. 
Cambridge,  rather  common  S.  E.,  Feb.  to  Nov. 

Nest.1  in  a  hole  in  a  tree,  frequently  in  a  Woodpecker's  deserted  nest. 
Eggs.1  three  to  seven,  vaiying  from  creamy  white  to  rufous,  generally  finely 
and  evenly  marked  with  shades  of  the  ground  color,  1*40  x  1-12. 

An  old  stub  or  branchless  trunk  of  a  dead  tree  standing  well  out 
in  a  field  is  the  kind  of  perch  the  Sparrow  Hawk  most  frequently 
chooses.  From  this  lookout,  like  a  Loggerhead  Shrike,  he  awaits  the 
appearance  of  game  below.  Generally  it  is  a  grasshopper  which  falls 
his  victim.  When  he  detects  one,  he  flies  directly  over  it  and  poises 
on  hovering  wings  until  the  right  opportunity  offers,  when  he  drops 
lightly  downward,  clutches  his  prey  in  his  talons,  and  then  returns  to 
his  perch  to  devour  it  at  leisure. 

The  Sparrow  Hawk's  call  is  a  rather  high,  quickly  repeated  Mlly- 
Mlly-killy-killy,  which  in  some  sections  gives  it  the  name  of  "  Killy 
Hawk." 

"  Of  320  stomachs  examined,  1  contained  a  game  bird ;  53,  other 
birds ;  89,  mice ;  12,  other  mammals  ;  12,  reptiles  or  batrachians ;  215, 
insects  ;  29,  spiders ;  and  29  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

The  Cuban  Sparrow  Hawk  {S61.  Falco  sparverioides)  is  of  accidental  oc- 
currence in  the  Florida  Keys.  It  has  two  color  phases ;  in  one,  the  under 
parts,  including  the  under  wing-coverts,  are  white  ;  in  the  other,  these  parts 
are  rufous. 

362.  Polyborus  Cheriway  iJacq.).  Audubon's  Caracara.  Ad.— 
Face  bare;  crown,  lower  back,  wings,  and  belly  black;  throat  bufty ;  nape, 
interscapulars,  and  breast  barred  with  black  and  huffy ;  tail  white,  barred 


212  FALCONS,   HAWKS,   EAGLES,  ETC. 

and  tipped  with  black.  Im. — Similar,  but  browner,  and  with  few  or  no  bars 
on  the  interscapulars  and  breast.    L.,  22-00  ;  W.,  16-00  ;  B.  from  N.,  1-25. 

Range. — Southern  Florida  and  Mexican  border  of  the  United  States  south 
to  the  Amazon. 

Nest^  in  a  cabbage  palmetto  or  on  the  tops  of  dense  bushes.  Eggs^  two  to 
three,  varying  from  cream-butf  to  rufous,  heavily  marked  with  shades  of  red- 
dish brown  and  chocolate,  2-35  x  1-85. 

Caracaras  frequently  associate  with  Vultures  and  feed  on  carrion, 
but  they  also  capture  their  own  food.  This  consists  largely  of  frogs, 
lizards,  and  small  snakes,  which  the  birds  find  while  walking  about 
on  the  ground  in  search  of  them.  Their  flight  is  strong,  rapid,  and 
direct,  and  bears  no  resemblance  to  that  of  a  Vulture's. 

364.  Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis  {Gmel.).  American  Os- 
PREY ;  Fish  Hawk.  Ad.  6  . — Upper  parts  fuscous,  the  head  and  nape  varied 
with  white ;  tail  with  six  to  eight  obscure  bands,  more  distinct  on  the  inner 
web ;  under  parts  white,  breast  sometimes  slightly  spotted  with  grayish  brown. 
Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  the  breast  always  spotted  with  grayish  brown.  L.,  23"10 ; 
W.,  18-25 ;  T.,  8-40. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Labrador :  winters  from 
South  Carolina  to  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  uncommon  S.  K.,  Mch.  25  to  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V., 
rare  S.  R.,  Apl.  3  to  May  26 ;  Sept.  29  to  Oct.  20.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V., 
Apl. ;  Sept. 

Nest.^  generally  in  a  tree,  thirty  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  rarely  on 
the  ground.  Eggs.,  two  to  four,  extremely  variable,  sometimes  dull  white,  un- 
marked, sometimes  almost  solid  chocolate,  but  generally  buffy  white,  heavily 
marked  with  chocolate,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  2-45  x  1-80. 

This  species  lives  in  colonies,  and  also  in  pairs,  along  our  coasts,  re- 
turning year  after  year  to  the  same  nesting  ground.  Its  food  consists 
solely  of  fish,  which  as  a  rule  it  captures  alive.  Winging  its  way 
slowly  over  the  water,  it  keeps  a  keen  watch  for  fish  which  may  appear 
near  the  surface.  When  one  is  observed  it  pauses,  hovers  a  moment, 
and  then  closing  its  wings  descends  with  a  speed  and  directness  of 
aim  that  generally  insure  success.  It  strikes  the  water  with  great 
force,  making  a  loud  splash.,  and  frequently  disappears  for  a  moment 
before  rising  with  its  prey  grasped  in  its  powerful  talons.  As  a  rule, 
it  carries  its  food  to  some  favorite  perch,  there  to  devour  it.  It  is  said 
that  Fish  Hawks  have  been  known  to  strike  fish  so  large  that,  unable 
to  release  their  hold,  they  were  drawn  under  water  and  drowned. 

When  protected.  Fish  Hawks,  like  many  other  birds,  to  a  large  de- 
gree lose  their  fear  of  man.  In  The  Auk,  for  October,  1892,  will  be 
found  a  valuable  article  by  Dr.  C.  S.  Allen,  on  the  habits  of  this  species 
as  observed  by  him  on  Plum  Island,  N.  Y..  where  for  forty  years  the 
birds  had  been  protected  by  the  owner  of  the  island. 


OWLS.  213 

The  note  of  the  Fish  Hawk  is  a  high,  rapidly  repeated,  plaintive 
whistle. 

Family  Strigid^.    Barn  Owls. 

The  Barn  Owls,  numbering  some  eight  or  ten  species,  are  found 
nearly  throughout  the  temperate  and  tropical  regions.  They  differ 
from  other  Owls  in  structure,  but  share  with  them  the  characteristic 
habits  of  the  suborder  Striges. 

365*  Strix  pratincola;  Bonap.  American  Barn  Owl;  Monkey- 
faced  Owl.  (See  Eig.  30.)  Ad. — Uppei'  parts  mixed  gray  and  ochraceous- 
buff,  finely  speckled  with  black  and  white ;  tail  varying  from  white  to  ochra- 
ceous-butf,  generally  mottled  with  black,  and  sometimes  with  three  or  four 
narrow  black  bars ;  under  parts  and  facial  disk  varying  from  pure  white  to 
deep  ochraceous-buif,  the  former  generally  with  numerous  small,  black,  round 
spots,  the  facial  disk  narrowly  margined  by  ocliraeeous-buff  or  rufous ;  eyes 
black.     L.,  18-00  ;  W.,  13-25  ;  T.,  5-50  ;  B.,  1-30. 

Range. — North  America ;  occasionally  found  as  far  north  as  Massachu- 
setts, and  breeds  from  Long  Island  southward  through  Mexico. 

Washington,  not  rare  P.  K.     Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 

iVes^,  m  a  tower  or  steeple,  a  hole  in  a  tree  or  bank.  Eggs.^  five  to  nine, 
1-Y2  X  1-30. 

The  Barn  Owl  conceals  itself  so  well  during  the  day  that,  in  ray 
experience,  it  is  a  difficult  bird  to  observe,  even  in  localities  where  it  is 
common.  For  this  reason  the  capture  of  one  of  these  odd-visaged 
birds  is  frequently  the  cause  of  much  excitement  over  the  supposed 
discovery  of  an  animal  entirely  new  to  science,  and  which,  by  the  local 
press,  is  generally  considered  half  bird,  half  monkey ! 

The  only  notes  I  have  ever  heard  from  the  Barn  Owl  are  a  sudden 
wild,  startling  scream,  a  high,  rapidly  repeated  cr-r-ree,  cr-r-ree, 
cr-r-ree,  and,  in  captive  birds,  a  hissing  sound ;  but  Captain  Bendire 
mentions  "a  feeble,  querulous  note  like  quaeJc-gudek,  or  dek-dek, 
sounding  somewhat  like  the  call  of  the  Night  Hawk  {Chordeiles  vir- 
ginianus),  frequently  repeated,  only  not  so  loud." 

"Of  29  stomachs  examined,  1  contained  poultry;  3,  other  birds; 
17,  mice ;  17,  other  mammals ;  4,  insects ;  and  7  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 


Family  Bubonid^.    Horned  Owls,  Hoot  Owls,  etc. 

Owls  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  About  two  hundred  spe- 
cies are  known,  of  which  some  twenty  inhabit  North  America.  With 
few  exceptions  Owls  are  woodland  birds,  but  some  species  live  in 
grassy  marshes  or  dry  plains,  while  others  make  their  home  in  towers, 
steeples,  or  outbuildings.     Owls  are  nocturnal  birds  of  prey,  and  for 


214  OWLS. 

this  reason  feed  more  largely  on  small  mammals — most  of  which  are 
nocturnal — than  the  diurnal  birds  of  prey.  They  are  therefore  of 
even  greater  value  to  the  agriculturist  than  Hawks. 

Their  prey  is  captured  with  their  talons,  and,  unless  too  large,  is 
swallowed  entire.  The  bones  and  hair  are  afterward  ejected  at  the 
mouth  in  matted  pellets. 

Owls'  eyes  are  so  fixed  in  their  sockets  that  they  can  not  look  from 
one  point  to  another  by  simply  "  rolling"  the  eyeball,  but  are  obliged 
to  turn  their  head.  The  weird,  almost  human,  voices  of  Owls  add  not 
a  little  to  the  superstitious  fear  with  which  they  are  frequently  re- 
garded.    The  eggs  of  Owls  are  uniformly  white,  unmarked. 

KEY    TO    THE    SPECIES, 

I.  Wing  over  10-00. 
A.  Belly  without  bars,  striped  longitudinally. 
a.  Upper  parts  with  cross-bars. 

ai.  Toes  featliered 368.  Barred  Owl. 

a2.  Toes  bare 368a.  Florida  Barred  Owl. 

6.  Upper  parts  striped  longitudinally    ....   367.  Short-eared  Owl. 
JB.  Belly  with  cross-bars. 

a.  With  conspicuous  horns  or  ears. 

«!.  Wing  over  13-00 375.  Great  Horned  Owl  and  races. 

(fi.   Wing  under  13-00 366.  Am.  Long-eared  Owl. 

b.  Without  horns  or  ears. 

Ji.  Plumage  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  black.     376.  Snowy  Owl. 
b^.  Plumage  fuscous,  mottled  and  barred  with  whitish. 

370.  Great  Gray  Owl. 
11.  Wing  under  10-00. 
A.  Toes  heavily  feathered. 

a.  Wing  more  than  6-00. 

«i.  Tail  more  than  6-00 377a.  Am.  Hawk  Owl. 

«2.  Tail  less  than  6-00 371.  Eichardson's  Owl. 

b.  Wing  less  than  6-00 372.  Saw-whet  Owl. 

£.  Toes  thinly,  if  at  all,  feathered. 

a.  Tarsi  heavily  feathered ;  with  conspicuous  horns. 

373.  Screech  Owl.     373a.  Florida  Screech  Owl. 

b.  Tarsi  partly  bare ;  no  horns   .     .     .     378a.  Florida  Burrowing  (^wl. 

366.  Asio  -virilsomaiius  (Less.).  American  Long-eared  Owl.  Ad. 
— Ear-tufts  conspicuous,  an  inch  or  more  in  length,  black  bordered  by  white 
and  buffy  ;  upper  parts  fuscous-brown  mottled  with  white,  the  bases  of  the 
feathers  ochraceous-buff ;  tail  with  six  to  eight  fuscous  cross-bars;  facial  disk 
buffy  bordered  by  black  ;  under  parts  mixed  white  and  ochraceous-butf,  the 
breast  broadly  streaked,  the  sides  and  belly  irregularly  barred  with  fuscous  ; 
eyes  yellow.     L.,  14-80 ;  W.,  11-90 ;  T.,  6-00 ;  B.,  1-06. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  JMova  Scotia  and  Manitoba  south- 
ward to  the  Gulf  States. 


OWLS.  215 

Washington,  common  P.  K.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  E.  Cambridge,  not 
common  P.  R. 

Nest^  generally  in  an  old  Crow's,  Hawk's,  or  Squirrel's  nest.  Eggs,  three 
Co  six,  1-65  X  rSO. 

"  This  species,  like  the  Screech  Owl,  is  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  and 
differs  from  the  Short-eared  Owl  in  never  hunting  during  the  day- 
time. It  usually  spends  the  day  in  some  evergreen  woods,  thick  wil- 
low copse,  or  alder  swamp,  although  rarely  it  may  be  found  in  open 
places.  .  .  . 

"  The  bird  is  not  wild,  and  will  allow  itself  to  be  closely  approached. 
When  conscious  that  its  presence  is  recognized,  it  sits  upright,  draws 
the  feathers  close  to  the  body,  and  erects  the  ear-tufts,  resembling  in 
appearance  a  piece  of  weather-beaten  bark  more  than  a  bird.  .  .  . 

"  Like  the  other  Owls,  its  flight  is  slow  and  wavering,  but  in  com-. 
mon  with  them  it  is  buoyant  and  devoid  of  any  appearance  of  heavi- 
ness. The  note  of  this  Owl  is  said  by  some  to  resemble  the  noise  made 
by  kittens,  while  others  state  it  is  like  the  barking  of  small  dogs. 

"  Of  107  stomachs  examined,  1  contained  a  game  bird ;  15,  other 
birds ;  84,  mice ;  5,  other  mammals ;  1,  insects  ;  and  15  were  empty  " 
(Fisher). 

367.  Asio  accipitrinus  {Pall.).  Short-eared  Owl.  Ad. — Ear-tufts 
very  short,  difficult  to  distinguish  in  a  dried  skin ;  upper  parts  fuscous,  the 
feathers  margined  with  cream-buff  or  ochraceous-buff,  not  mottled  with  white ; 
tail  with  ochraceous-buff  and  fuscous  bands  of  about  equal  width  ;  under 
parts  varying  from  whitish  to  ochraceous-buff,  the  breast  broadly  and  the 
belly  more  finely  streaked  with  fuscous;  eyes  yellow.  L.,  15-50 ;  W.,  12-75; 
T.,  6-05  ;  B.,  1-20. 

Range. — Nearly  cosmopolitan,  breeding  in  the  United  States  locally  from 
Virginia  northward. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  casual.  Cambridge,  uncommon 
T.  v.,  Apl. ;  Oct.  and  Nov. 

Nest^  on  the  ground,  in  grassy  marshes.     Eggs^  four  to  seven,  1-60  x  1-25. 

This  species  might  well  be  named  Marsh  Owl,  for,  unlike  most  of 
our  Owls,  it  does  not  frequent  the  woods,  but  lives  in  grassy  marshes. 
It  is  not  shy  and  does  not  take  wing  until  almost  stepped  upon,  when 
it  arises  noiselessly  and  flies  low  over  the  marsh.  Sometimes  it  alights 
on  a  knoll  or  slight  elevation  and  watches  the  intruder  in  the  intent, 
half-human  manner  of  Owls. 

During  the  migrations  and  in  the  winter  this  bird  is  occasionally 
found  in  flocks  or  colonies  containing  one  or  two  hundred  individuals. 

"Of  101  stomachs  examined,  11  contained  small  birds;  77,  mice; 
7,  other  mammals;  7,  insects;  and  14  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

368.  Syrniuinnebulosuin(i^o/'s^.).  Barred  Owl;  Hoot  Owl.  (See 
Fig.  31.)     Ad, — No  ear-tufts ;  upper  parts  grayish  brown,  each  feather  with 


216  OWLS. 

two  or  three  white  or  buffy  white  bars;  tail  with  six  to  eight  similar  bars; 
facial  disk  gray,  finely  barred  or  mottled  with  fuscous ;  under  parts  white, 
more  or  less  tinged  with  buffy,  the  breast  tarred^  the  sides  and  belly  broadly 
streaked  with  fuscous;  bill  yellow;  legs  and  feet  feathered  to  or  near  the  bases 
of  the  nails ;  eyes  brownish  black.    L.,  20-00  ;  W.,  13-50  ;  T.,  9-50  ;  B.,  1-50. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  northward  to  IS  ova  Scotia  and  Manitoba ; 
resident,  except  at  the  northern  limit  of  its  range. 

Washington,  not  common  P.  K.  Sing  Sing,  rare  P.  R.  Cambridge,  rare 
P.  R.,  sometimes  common  in  ISIov.  and  Dec. 

Nest^i  in  a  hollow  tree  ;  sometimes  in  an  old  Crow's  or  Hawk's  nest.  Eggs., 
two  to  four,  2-00  x  1-65. 

The  deep-toned,  questioning  voice,  the  absence  of  "horns,"  and  the 
dark-brown,  nearly  black  eyes,  combine  to  make  Barred  Owls  appear 
among  the  most  human  of  these  strangely  human  birds.  They  inhabit 
large  tracts  of  woodland,  and  are  generally  resident  in  certain  localities. 
Their  notes  are  uttered  more  or  less  throughout  the  year,  but  are  more 
frequently  heard  during  the  nesting  reason.  As  a  rule  they  call  only 
during  the  first  part  of  the  night  and  again  before  sunrise,  but  on 
moonlight  nights  they  call  throughout  the  night,  and  occasionally 
they  may  be  heard  during  the  day.  They  readily  respond  to  an  imi- 
tation of  their  cries,  and  even  at  midday  I  have  drawn  them  from 
their  nesting  place  to  meet  a  supposed  intruder  on  their  domain.  Un- 
der favorable  circumstances  they  may  be  heard  at  a  distance  of  at 
least  half  a  mile. 

Their  usual  call  is  a  sonorous  wh66-ivh66-wh66,  who-wMo,  to-wkoo- 
dh.  This  is  varied,  both  as  to  relative  position  and  length  of  the 
syllables,  by  the  same  individuals,  and  is  apparently  the  cry  of  ques- 
tion and  response.  When  two  birds,  perhaps  rival  males,  come  to- 
gether, there  ensues  a  striking  medley  of  whd-whds  mingled  with  roll- 
ing whoo-dhs,  the  whole  reminding  one  of  deep-voiced,  mirthless 
laughter.  Sometimes  two  birds  give  a  concerted  performance.  One 
utters  about  ten  rapid  hoots,  while  the  other,  in  a  slightly  higher  tone, 
hoots  half  as  fast,  both  performers  ending  together  with  a  ivhoo-dh. 
At  times  they  utter  a  single,  prolonged  whoo-dh,  and  more  rarely  a 
weird,  gasping  shriek  emphasized  at  its  conclusion  like  a  cry  of  dis- 
tress. 

"Of  109  stomachs  examined,  5  contained  poultry  or  game;  13, 
other  birds;  46,  mice;  18,  other  mammals;  4,  frogs;  1,  a  lizard;  2, 
fish;  14,  insects;  2,  spiders;  9,  crawfish;  and  20  were  empty" 
(Fisher). 

368a.  S.  n.  alleni  Jiidgw.  Florida  Barred  Owl.— Similar  to  the 
preceding,  but  averaging  somewhat  darker,  and  with  the  toes  nearly  naked. 
W.,  12-5o'';  T.,  8-50. 

^aw^e.— Florida,  and  region  of  the  Gulf  coast  to  Texas. 


OWLS.  217 

370.  Scotiaptex  cinereum  ( Gmel.).  Great  Gray  Owl.  Ad. — No 
ear-tufts,  size  very  large  ;  upper  parts  fuscous,  everywhere  mottled  with  white, 
and  with  little  or  no  buffy  ;  facial  disk  gray,  barred  with  black ;  under  parts 
white,  the  breast  broadly  streaked,  the  belly  and  sides  irregularly  barred 
and  streaked  with  fuscous;  legs  and  feet  heavily  feathered;  bill  and  eyes 
yellow.    L.,  27-00 ;  W.,  17-50 ;  T.,  12-00. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Hudson  Bay  northward,  and  wanders  southward  in 
winter  to  the  northern  border  of  the  United  States, 
Cambridge,  very  rare  and  irregular  W.  V. 
Nest.i  in  coniferous  trees.     Eggs^  two  to  four,  2-16  x  1-71. 

"  Dr.  Dall  considers  it  a  stupid  bird,  and  states  that  sometimes  it 
may  be  caught  in  the  hands.  Its  great  predilection  for  thick  woods, 
in  which  it  dwells  doubtless  to  the  very  limit  of  trees,  prevents  it  from 
being  an  inhabitant  of  the  barren  grounds  or  other  open  country  in 
the  north.  ... 

"  The  note  of  this  Owl  is  said  to  be  a  tremulous,  vibrating  sound, 
somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  Screech  Owl.  .  .  . 

"  Of  9  stomachs  examined,  1  contained  a  small  bird ;  7,  mice ;  and 
4  other  mammals  "  (Fisher). 

371.  Nyctala  tengmalmi  richsuvAsota.  {Bonap.).  Eichaedson's 
Owl.  Ad. — Upper  parts  grayish  brown  and  the  head  and  back  spotted  with 
white ;  tail  with  four  or  five  imperfect  white  bars ;  under  parts  white,  heavily 
streaked  with  grayish  brown ;  legs  and  feet  heavily  feathered,  whitish,  barred 
with  grayish  brown  ;  eyes  yellow.  Im. — Upper  parts  dark  cinnamon-brown, 
with  a  few  more  or  less  concealed  white  spots ;  tail  as  in  the  ad. ;  breast 
like  the  back  ;  belly  ochraceous-buff.    L.,  10-00;  W.,  6-75  ;  T.,  4-40. 

Range. — Northern  North  America :  south  in  winter  to  the  northern  United 
States. 

Nest.,  in  holes  in  trees  or  in  old  nests  of  other  birds  (?).  Eggs,  three  to 
seven,  1-35  x  1*14. 

"  Richardson's  Owl  is  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  remaining  quiet  dur- 
ing the  day  in  the  thick  foliage  of  the  trees  or  bushes.  In  fact,  its 
vision  is  apparently  so  affected  by  bright  light  that  many  specimens 
have  been  captured  alive  by  persons  walking  up  and  taking  them  in 
their  hands.  On  this  account  the  Eskimo  in  Alaska  have  given  it  the 
name  of  '  blind  one.' 

"  The  song  of  this  Owl,  according  to  Dr.  Merriam  (Bull.  Nuttall 
Ornith.  Club,  vol.  vii,  1882,  p.  237),  is  a  low,  liquid  note  that  resem- 
bles the  sound  produced  by  water  slowly  dropping  from  a  height" 
(Fisher). 

372.  Nyctala  acadica  (Gmel.)     Saw-whet  Owl;  Acadian  Owl. 

ylfl— Upper  parts  dark  cinnamon-brown,  the  head  finely  streaked.,  the  back 
spotted,  with  white  ;  tail  with  three  or  four  imperfect  white  bars ;  under  parts 
white,  heavily  streaked  with  cinnamon-brown  or  dark  rufous ;  legs  and  feet 


218  OWLS. 

feathered,  buffy  white,  unbarred ;  eyes  yellow.  Im. — Upper  parts  as  in  the 
ad.,  but  head  and  back  with  little  or  no  white  ;  breast  like  the  back  ;  belly 
ochraceous-buif.    L.,  8-00  ;  W.,  5-40 ;  T.,  2-80 ;  B.,  -60. 

BemarTcs. — Its  small  size  and  absence  of  ears  at  once  distinguish  this 
species  from  any  Owl  of  eastern  North  America  except  N.  t.  richardsoni^  from 
which  it  may  be  known  by  its  lighter  color,  streaked  instead  of  spotted  head, 
and  unbarred  legs  and  feet. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  northern  New  York  northward,  and 
migrates  southward  in  winter  as  far  as  Virginia. 

Washington,  rare  W,  V.,  Oct.  to  Mch.  Sing  Sing,  rather  rare  W.  V.,  Oct. 
28  to  Jan.  13.     Cambridge,  not  uncommon  W.  V.,  Nov.  to  Mch. 

Nest.^  in  a  hole  in  a  tree ;  frequently  a  Woodpecker's,  sometimes  a  Squir- 
rel's deserted  nest.    Eggs.^  three  to  five,  1*19  x  1-00. 

"  The  species  is  not  migratory,  but  is  more  or  less  of  an  irregular 
wanderer  in  its  search  for  food  during  the  fall  and  winter.  It  may 
be  quite  common  in  a  locality  and  then  not  be  seen  again  for  several 
years.  It  is  nocturnal,  seldom  moving  about  in  the  daytime,  but  pass- 
ing the  time  in  sleeping  in  some  dark  retreat.  So  soundly  does  it  sleep 
that  oftentimes  it  may  be  captured  alive.  .  .  . 

"  During  the  day  it  frequents  the  thick  evergreen  woods,  though 
sometimes  it  is  found  in  comparatively  open  groves,  but  always  in 
dense  trees.  .  .  . 

"  The  note  of  this  species  is  peculiar  and  has  a  rasping  character, 
resembling  the  sound  made  when  a  large-toothed  saw  is  being  filed  ; 
hence  the  name.  It  is  more  often  heard  during  March  and  early  April, 
though  occasionally  it  is  heard  at  other  times  of  the  year. 

"  The  flight  resembles  that  of  the  Woodcock  very  closely — so  much 
so,  in  fact,  that  the  writer  once  killed  a  specimen  as  it  was  flying  over 
the  alders,  and  not  until  the  dog  pointed  the  dead  bird  was  he  aware 
of  his  mistake.  .  .  . 

"  Of  22  stomachs  examined,  17  contained  mice ;  1,  a  bird ;  1,  an 
insect ;  and  3  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

373*  Megascops  asio  (^Zi««.).  Screech  Owl.  Ad.,  rufous pJiase. — 
Size  small ;  ear-tufts  conspicuous,  about  an  inch  in  length  ;  upper  parts  bright 
rufous,  finely  streaked  with  black  ;  under  parts  white,  the  feathers  centrally 
streaked  with  black  and  irregularly  barred  with  rufous ;  toes  rather  scantily 
feathered  ;  eyes  yellow.  Gray  phase. — Upper  parts  generally  brownish  gray, 
streaked  with  black  and  finely  mottled  with  ochraceous-buff;  under  parts 
white,  finely  streaked  and  more  finely  and  irregularly  barred  with  black, 
more  or  less  bordered  by  rufous.  Young. — Entire  plumage  regularly  barred 
with  grayish  or  rufous  and  white.     L.,  9-40:  W..  6-40  ;  T.,  3-09  ;  B.,  -63. 

Kemarhs.—Th\t>,  bird  may  be  known  by  its  small  size  and  ear-tufts.  Its 
color  phases  are  not  dependent  upon  age,  sex,  or  season,  and  both  phases  are 
sometimes  represented  in  the  same  brood,  Between  the  two  there  is  a  com- 
plete intergradation, 


OWLS.  219 

Range. — Eastern  Nortli  America,  northward  to  New  Brunswick  and  Min- 
nesota ;  generally  resident  throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  common  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  K.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon P.  E. 

JS'est.,  generally  in  a  hollow  tree.     Eggs.,  four  to  six,  1-55  x  1-22. 

The  Screech  Owl  frequently  makes  its  home  near  our  dwellings, 
and  sometimes  selects  a  convenient  nook  in  them  in  which  to  lay  its 
eggs.  But  its  favorite  retreat  is  an  old  apple  orchard,  where  the  hollow 
limbs  offer  it  a  secure  refuge  from  the  mobs  of  small  birds  which  are 
ever  ready  to  attack  it.  A  search  in  the  trees  of  an  orchard  of  this  kind 
rarely  fails  to  result  in  the  discovery  of  one  or  more  of  these  feathered 
inhabitants  who  may  have  resided  there  for  years.  They  attempt  to 
escape  capture  by  a  show  of  resistance  and  a  castanetlike  cracking  of 
the  bill,  but  when  brought  from  their  hiding  place  sit  quietly,  dazzled 
for  a  moment  by  the  sudden  light.  They  then  elongate  themselves 
and  almost  close  their  eyes,  thus  rendering  themselves  as  inconspicuous 
as  possible.  How  differently  they  appear  when  the  western  sky  fades 
and  their  day  begins  !  Is  any  bird  more  thoroughly  awake  than  a 
hungry  Screech  Owl  I  With  ear-tufts  erected  and  his  great,  round  eyes 
opened  to  the  utmost,  he  is  the  picture  of  alertness. 

When  night  comes  one  may  hear  the  Screech  Owl's  tremulous, 
wailing  whistle.  It  is  a  weird,  melancholy  call,  welcomed  only  by 
those  who  love  Nature's  voice  whatever  be  the  medium  through  which 
she  speaks. 

'•  Of  355  stomachs  examined,  1  contained  poultry ;  38,  other  birds ; 
91,  mice;  11,  other  mammals;  2,  lizards;  4,  batrachians;  l,fish;  100, 
insects;  5,  spiders;  9,  crawfish;  7,  miscellaneous;  2,  scorpions;  2, 
earthworms ;  and  43  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

373a*  M.  a.  floridanus  {Ridgw.).  Florida  Screech  Owl. — Much 
like  the  preceding,  but  smaller,  with  the  colors  deeper  and  markings  of  the 
under  parts  heavier.     W.,  5-95 ;  T.,  2-80. 

Bang e.— Florida  and  Gulf  coast  region  to  Louisiana. 

375.  Bubo  virginianus  (6'^»i6?.).  Great  Horned  Owl.  ^d— Size 
large  ;  ear-tufts  conspicuous,  nearly  two  inches  in  length  ;  upper  parts  mottled 
with  varying  shades  of  ochraceous-bufi  and  black ;  facial  disk  ochraceous- 
buff ;  ear-tufts  black  and  ochraceous-buff ;  a  white  patch  on  the  throat,  rest 
of  the  under  parts  ochraceous-butf,  barred  with  black ;  legs  and  feet  feath- 
ered; eyes  yellow.     $  L.,  22-00;  W.,  15-00;  T.,  8-50;  B.,  1-60. 

Range.— Eastern  North  America ;  northward  to  Labrador  and  southward 
to  Costa  Eica ;  resident  throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  rare  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  P.  E.  Cambridge, 
occasional  at  all  seasons. 

Nest.,  generally  in  an  old  Crow's,  Hawk's,  or  Squirrel's  nest.  Eggs^  two  to 
three,  2-20  x  1-80. 


220  OWLS. 

This  "  tiger  among  birds  "  is  an  inhabitant  of  heavily  forested  re- 
gions, and  is  common  therefore  only  in  the  wilder,  less  settled  portions 
of  our  country.  It  is  the  only  one  of  our  resident  Owls  which  destroys 
poultry  and  birds  in  any  numbers,  but,  in  spite  of  its  frequent  visits 
to  the  farmyard.  Dr.  Fisher  considers  that  in  many  localities  it  is  a 
"  beneficial  species  "  because  of  its  great  fondness  for  rabbits. 

Its  usual  call  is  a  loud,  deep-toned  whoo,  hoo-hoo-hoo,  ivhooo,  whooo. 
The  syllables  are  all  on  the  same  note,  and  bear  some  resemblance  to 
a  bass-voiced  dog  barking  in  the  distance. 

A  much  rarer  call  is  a  loud,  piercing  scream,  one  of  the  most  blood- 
curdling sounds  I  have  ever  heard  in  the  woods. 

"Of  127  stomachs  examined,  31  contained  poultry  or  game  birds; 
8,  other  birds;  13,  mice;  65,  other  mammals;  1,  a  scorpion;  1,  fish ; 
10,  insects,  and  17  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

375a.  B.  V.  subarcticus  {Hoy).  Western  Horned  Owl.— Similar 
to  the  preceding,  but  much  lighter  in  color,  the  ochraceous-buff  markings 
largely  replaced  by  gray  or  white. 

Range. — Western  United  States,  east  casually  to  Wisconsin  and  Illinois. 

375c.  B.  V.  saturatus  Rldgw.  Dusky  Horned  Owl. — Similar  to 
B.  virginianiis.,  but  much  darker,  the  prevailing  color  fuscous  or  dusky. 

Range. — "  From  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay  ;  west  through  the  interior  to 
Alaska,  and  south  probably  through  all  the  higher  regions  of  the  Eocky 
and  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains;  south  to  Arizona  (San  Francisco  Mountain)" 
(Bendire). 

376*  Nyctea  nyctea  {Linn.).  Snowy  Owl.  Ad.  $. — Size  large; 
no  ear-tufts ;  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  dark  grayish  brown  or  fuscous ; 
legs  and  feet  heavily  feathered ;  eyes  yellow.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  more 
heavily  barred.     L.,  25-00  ;  W.,  IT'OO  ;  T.,  9-50  ;  B.,  1'50. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Labrador  northward  and  wanders  southward  in 
winter  regularly  to  tlie  northern  Dnited  States  and  occasionally  to  Texas. 

Washington,  casual  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  A.  V.  Cambridge,  rare  and  irregu- 
lar W.  V. 

Nest  on  the  ground.     Eggs.,  three  to  ten,  2*24  x  1'76. 

"The  Snowy  Owl  is  diurnal  in  its  habits,  but  like  most  birds  is 
more  active  in  search  of  prey  during  the  early  morning  and  again 
toward  dusk.  Like  many  of  the  Hawks,  it  occupies  a  commanding 
perch  for  hours,  watching  what  is  going  on  about  it,  occasionally 
varying  the  monotony  by  dropping  on  a  mouse  or  launching  out  over 
the  broad  country,  soon  to  return  to  its  perch.  During  its  southern 
wanderings  it  is  very  partial  to  localities  in  the  vicinity  of  water, 
especially  the  barren  sand  wastes  along  the  seashore  or  extensive 
marshy  fiats  bordering  the  bays  and  rivers.  .  .  . 

"  The  flight  is  firm,  smooth,  and  noiseless,  and  may  be  long  pro- 


OWLS.  221 

tracted.  It  is  capable  of  rapid  flight,  and,  according  to  Audubon,  is 
able  to  capture  Ducks,  Pigeons,  and  even  Grouse  on  the  wing,  striking 
them  down  after  the  manner  of  the  Duck  Hawk. 

''  Of  38  stomachs  examined,  2  contained  game  birds ;  9,  other 
birds ;  18,  mice ;  2,  other  mammals ;  and  12  were  empty  "  (Fisher). 

37*7.  Surnia  ulula*  ca<pa>roch  (Midi.).  American  Hawk  Owl. 
Ad. — Size  medium  ;  no  ear-tufts  ;  upper  parts  dark  grayish  brown  or  fuscous ; 
head  and  hind  neck  spotted  with  white ;  back,  and  especially  tertials,  barred 
with  white ;  tail  with  broken  whitish  bars,  long  and  rounded.,  the  outer 
feathers  more  than  an  inch  shorter  than  the  middle  ones ;  middle  of  the 
throat  with  a  fuscous  spot  and  below  it  a  white  one ;  sides  of  the  neck  and 
upper  breast  streaked  with  fuscous,  rest  of  the  under  parts  barred  with  fuscous 
and  white  ;  legs  and  feet  fully  feathered.     L.,  15-00 ;  W.,  8-75 ;  T.,  7'25. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Newfoundland  northward,  and  occasionally  wanders 
southward  in  winter  as  far  as  Pennsylvania. 

Nest^  in  coniferous  trees  or  in  the  holes  of  dead  trees  or  stubs.  Eggs.,  three 
to  seven,  1-50  x  1-23. 

"  The  Hawk  Owl  is  strictly  diurnal,  as  much  so  as  any  of  the 
Hawks,  and  like  some  of  them  often  selects  a  tall  stub  or  dead-topped 
tree  in  a  comparatively  open  place  for  a  perch,  where  it  sits  in  the 
bright  sunlight  watching  for  its  prey. 

"  Although  the  flight  is  swift  and  hawklike,  it  has  nevertheless 
the  soft,  noiseless  character  common  to  the  other  Owls  ;  when  starting 
from  any  high  place,  such  as  the  top  of  a  tree,  it  usually  pitches  down 
nearly  to  the  ground,  and  flies  off  rapidly  above  the  tops  of  the  bushes 
or  high  grass,  abruptly  arising  again  as  it  seeks  another  perch. 

"  The  note  is  a  shrill  cry,  which  is  uttered  generally  while  the  bird 
is  on  the  wing  "  (Fisher). 

378a.  Speotyto  cunicularia  floridana  Ridgw.  Flobiba  Bur- 
rowing Owl.  Ad. — Size  small;  no  ear-tufts;  legs  and  feet  nearly  naked; 
upper  parts  grayish  brown,  spotted  and  barred  with  white ;  throat  white,  rest 
of  the  under  parts  barred  with  grayish  brown  and  white  in  about  equal 
amounts.     L.,  9-00;  W.,  6-50;  T.,  3-00;  Tar.,  1-75. 

Range. — Southern  Florida,  chiefly  in  the  Kissimmee  "  prairie  "  region  of 
Osceola,  Polk,  and  De  Soto  Counties,  and  also  Manatee  County. 

Nest.,  in  a  hole  in  the  ground  excavated  by  the  bird.  Eggs.,  five  to  seven, 
1-23  X  1-03. 

This  diurnal  Owl  is  locally  abundant  in  its  restricted  range.  Ex- 
cellent accounts  of  its  habits  will  be  found  under  the  following  refer- 
ences :  Rhoads,  Auk,  ix,  1892,  pp.  1-8 ;  Scott,  ibid.,  216-218 ;  Bendire, 
Life  Histories  North  American  Birds,  pp.  400-402. 

The  BuKROwiNG  Owl  {S78.  tipeotyto  cunicularia  JiypogcBa).,  well  known 
in  our  Western  States,  has  been  taken  once  in  Massachusetts. 


222  PAROQUETS. 


ORDER  PSITTACI.     PARROTS,  MACAWS,  PAROQ,UETS, 

ETC. 

Family  Psittacid^.    Parrots  and  Paroquets. 

The  order  Psittaci  is  divided  into  six  families  containing  in  all 
about  five  hundred  species.  The  American  species,  some  one  hundred 
and  fifty  in  number,  are  included  in  the  present  family.  Only  one 
species  inhabits  the  United  States,  and  it  is  not  found  south  of  our 
boundaries.  Parrots  and  Paroquets — the  dividing  line  between  the 
two  can  not  be  sharply  drawn — are  forest-inhabiting,  fruit-  and  seed- 
eating  birds.  They  are  poor  walkers,  good  climbers,  and  strong  fliers, 
making  extended  flights  in  search  of  food.  Their  voices  in  Nature 
are  harsh  and  discordant ;  nevertheless,  almost  all  the  species  possess 
the  power  of  speech.  Some,  however,  rarely  learn  to  talk,  while  others 
invariably  do.  The  red-tailed,  gray  African  Parrot  {Psittacus  erytha- 
cus)  takes  first  rank  for  ability  in  this  direction,  while  the  Mexican 
Double  Yellow-head  {Amazona  levaillanti)  is  usually  accorded  second 
place. 

382.  Conurus  caroUnensis  {Linn.).  Carolina  Paroquet.  (See 
Fig.  34.)  Ad. — Head  and  neck  all  around  yellow ;  forehead  and  cheeks  deep 
orange  ;  bend  of  the  Aviug  and  tibise  orange  ;  rest  of  the  plun:iage  bright  green ; 
the  inner  vanes  of  the  wing-feathers  fuscous  ;  the  under  surface  of  the  tail  yel- 
lowish. Im. — Similar,  but  the  head  and  neck  green  like  the  back ;  forehead 
and  region  in  front  of  the  eye  orange ;  tibiae  and  bend  of  the  wing  without 
orange.     L.,  12-50 ;  W.,  7-40 ;  T.,  6-50. 

Range. — Formerly  eastern  United  States  north  to  Maryland,  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  Iowa ;  west  to  Colorado,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  eastern  Texas ; 
now  restricted  to  a  few  localities  in  the  wilder  parts  of  Indian  Territory  and 
Florida.  (On  the  extermination  of  the  Paroquet,  see  Hasbrouck,  Auk,  viii, 
1891,  pp.  369-379,  with  map;  and  Butler,  ibid.,  ix,  1892,  pp.  49-56.) 

Nest.,  said  to  be  in  a  hollow  cypress  or  sycamore  tree,  but  no  exact,  de- 
tailed account  of  the  nidification  of  this  species  has  been  published.  Eggs., 
two,  white,  1'44  x  1*12. 

The  complete  extermination  of  the  Paroquet  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  its  range  is  due  chiefly  to  four  causes:  first,  it  was  destructive 
to  fruit  orchards,  and  for  this  reason  was  killed  by  agriculturists; 
second,  it  has  been  trapped  and  bagged  in  enormous  numbers  by  pro- 
fessional bird-catchers ;  third,  it  has  been  killed  in  myriads  for  its 
plumage ;  and,  fourth,  it  has  been  wantonly  slaughtered  by  so-called 
sportsmen.  In  short,  in  the  present  century  the  Paroquet  has  always 
disappeared  soon  after  its  haunts  were  invaded  by  civilized  man. 

I  made  three  visits  to  Florida  before  learning  of  a  locality  where 
Paroquets  could  be  found.     Finally,  in  March,  1889,  while  collecting 


PAROQUETS.  223 

in  eastern  Florida,  information  was  received  of  their  presence  near  the 
head  waters  of  the  Sebastian  River,  a  small  stream  flowing  into  the 
Indian  River  near  Micco,  and  I  at  once  started  for  this  locality.  The 
following  notes  made  on  this  trip  are  from  the  Abstract  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Linnaean  Society  of  New  York  city,  No.  2, 1890,  pp.  5,  6. 
Since  they  were  written  the  Paroquet  has  been  found  to  be  a  locally 
common  bird  in  the  unsettled  parts  of  Brevard,  Osceola,  Polk,  De  Soto, 
and  Dade  Counties. 

Late  on  the  afternoon  of  our  arrival  we  started  a  flock  of  seven 
Paroquets  from  a  productive  patch  of  the  thistles  {Cirsium  leconfei) 
which  proved  to  be  their  favorite  food.  Evidently  their  meal  was 
finished  and  they  were  ready  to  retire,  for  they  darted  like  startled 
Doves  through  the  pines,  twisting  and  turning  in  every  direction,  and 
flying  with  such  rapidity  they  were  soon  lost  to  view,  the  ring  of  their 
sharp,  rolling  call  alone  furnishing  proof  it  was  not  all  a  vision.  Two 
days  passed  before  I  again  met  Conurus,  and  this  time  to  better  ad- 
vantage. It  was  a  wet  and  drizzling  morning  when  we  found  a  flock 
of  six  birds  feeding  on  thistles  at  the  edge  of  a  "  prairie."  Perched  on 
the  leafless  branches  of  the  tree  before  us,  their  brilliant  green  plum- 
age showed  to  the  best  advantage.  Several  were  skillfully  dissecting 
the  thistles  they  held  in  their  feet,  biting  out  the  milky  seed  while  the 
released  fluffy  down  floated  away  beneath  them.  There  was  a  sound 
of  suppressed  conversation  ;  half-articulate  calls.  We  were  only  par- 
tially concealed  behind  a  neighboring  tree,  still  they  showed  no  great 
alarm  at  our  presence ;  curiosity  was  apparently  the  dominant  feeling. 
One  of  the  three  birds  which  fell  at  our  fire  was  but  slightly  wounded, 
a  single  shot  passing  through  the  elbow,  and  his  loud  outcries  soon 
recalled  his  companions — a  habit  which  has  cost  thousands  of  them 
their  lives,  and  in  part,  at  least,  accounts  for  the  rapidity  of  their  ex- 
termination— and  one  alone  of  this  flock  escaped. 

There  was  evident  regularity  in  the  habits  of  the  birds  we  after- 
ward observed — in  all  about  fifty,  in  flocks  of  from  six  to  twenty.  At 
an  early  hour  they  left  their  roost  in  the  "  hummock  "  bordering  the 
river  and  passed  out  into  the  pines  to  feed,  always,  so  far  as  I  ob- 
served, selecting  thistle  patches,  and  eating  the  seeds  only  when  in  the 
milky  stage.  At  about  ten  o'clock  they  returned  to  the  "  hummock  " 
and  apparently  to  some  favorite  tree,  here  to  pass  the  rest  of  the  morn- 
ing and  early  afternoon,  when  they  again  started  out  to  feed,  return- 
ing to  the  roost  just  before  sunset.  A  flock  of  these  birds  feeding 
among  the  thistles  is  a  most  beautiful  and  animated  sight;  one  is 
almost  persuaded  not  to  disturb  them.  There  is  constant  movement 
as  they  fly  from  plant  to  plant,  or,  when  securing  thistles,  they  fly  with 
them  in  their  bills  to  a  neighboring  tree,  there  to  dissect  them  at  their 


224  CUCKOOS. 

leisure.  The  loud  rolling  call  was  apparently  uttered  only  when  on 
the  wing,  but  when  at  Test,  or  feeding,  there  was  a  low  conversational 
murmur  of  half-articulate,  querulous  notes  and  calls. 

Of  their  roosting  habits  I  can  say  little  or  nothing.  Late  one 
morning  (March  15th)  we  found  a  flock  of  eight  birds  resting  on  a  tall, 
dead  cypress  near  the  center  of  the  ''  hummock  "  on  the  river's  bank. 
On  a  previous  expedition  my  guide  had  observed  them  in  this  same 
tree,  which  was  evidently  a  favorite  midday  haunt,  and  it  is  not  impos- 
sible they  may  have  roosted  in  the  hole  we  discovered  near  its  top. 

ORDER  COCCYGES.     CUCKOOS,  KINGFISHERS,  ETC. 

Family  Cuculid^.    Cuckoos,  Anis,  Etc. 

Only  thirty-five  of  the  some  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  known 
species  of  Cuckoos  are  found  in  the  New  World,  and  they  are  largely 
confined  to  the  tropics. 

Cuckoos  as  a  rule  are  rather  solitary  birds  inhabiting  wooded  areas. 
The  Anis,  however,  are  always  gregarious  and  live  in  open  places. 
Their  flight  is  weak,  generally  from  tree  to  tree,  and  their  feet  are 
largely  used  as  a  means  of  progression.  Some  species  hop,  others 
walk,  and  one  is  celebrated  for  his  speed  as  a  runner.  They  are  pos- 
sessed of  peculiar  vocal  powers,  and  their  strange  calls  are  frequently 
the  origin  of  their  popular  names.  Many  species  are  remarkable  for 
the  irregularity  of  their  breeding  habits.  The  Old- World  Cuckoo  {Cu- 
culus  canoriis),  like  our  Cowbird,  deposits  its  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other 
birds,  and  leaves  to  them  the  duties  of  incubation  and  rearing  of  the 
young.  The  Anis  are  communistic,  and  build  but  one  nest,  in  which 
several  females  lay  and  share  the  task  of  incubation.  The  smaller 
species  are  insectivorous,  but  the  larger  ones  add  small  reptiles  and 
batrachians  to  their  fare. 

386.  Coccyzus  minor  (Gmel.).  Mangrove  Cuckoo.  ^(Z.— Upper 
parts  brownish  gray,  grayer  on  the  head,  with  glossy  reflections  ;  wings  and 
middle  pair  of  tail-feathers  like  the  back  ;  outer  tail-feathers  black,  broadly 
tipped  with  white ;  ear-coverts  hlaclc^  bill  black,  the  lower  mandible  yellow 
except  at  the  tip;  under  parts  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  12-50;  W.,  5-40  ;  T.,  6*50; 
B.  from  N.,  -80. 

Range. — Greater  Antilles,  west  coast  of  Central  America,  northward  to 
coast  of  Gulf  States  (?) ;  west  coast  of  Florida. 

Nest.,  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  low  trees  and  bushes.  Eggs.,  three  to  four 
greenish  blue. 

This  bird  is  apparently  a  rare  summer  resident  on  the  Gulf  coast 
of  Florida,  but  its  relationships  in  this  region  to  the  following  race 
are  not  known. 


CUCKOOS.  225 

386a.  C.  m.  maynardi  [Ridgw.).  Maynard's  Cuckoo. — Similar  to 
the  preceding,  but  with  a  slightly  smaller  bill  and  much  paler  under  parts, 
the  throat  and  breast  being  grayish  white,  very  faintly  washed  with  ochra- 
ceous,  which  becomes  stronger  on  the  belly.    B.  from  N.,  '76. 

Mange. — Bahamas  and  Florida  Keys. 

This  bird  is  a  regular  summer  resident  in  the  Florida  Keys  and 
probably  adjoining  Atlantic  mainland  (see  Scott,  Auk,  vi,  1889,  p.  250). 

387.  Coccyzus    americanus    {Linn.).    Yellow-billed    Cuckoo. 

(See  Fig.  36.)     Ad. — Upper  parts  brownish  gray  A^ith  slight  greenish  gloss; 

most  of  the  wing-feathers  rufous,  except  at  the  tip ;  outer  tail-feathers  hlacTc^ 

conspicuously    tipped 

with  white,  w'hich  ex- 

<«D.ds  down  the  outer 

vane     of     the    outer 

feather;    under  parts 

dull     whitish  ;       bill  Fig.  73.— Tail-feathers  of  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo, 

black,  the  lower  man- 
dible yellow^  except  at  the  tip.    L.,  12-20";  W.,  5-70 ;  T.,  6-20 ;  B.  from  N.,  -76. 

Remarks. — This  species  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  the  Black-billed 
Cuckoo,  but  may  always  be  known  from  that  species  by  its  yellow  lower 
mandible,  rufous  wing-feathers,  and  black,  white-tipped  tail-feathers. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  New  Brunswdck,  and 
winters  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  E.,  May  2  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R., 
May  4  to  Oct.  81.    Cambridge,  common  S.  R.,  May  12  to  Aug. 

A'es^,  a  platform  of  small  sticks,  wuth  a  few  grasses  or  catkins,  generally  in 
low  trees  or  vine-covered  bushes,  four  to  ten  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs., 
three  to  five,  pale  greenish  blue,  r22  x  '92. 

A  long,  slim,  dovelike  bird  slips  noiselessly  by  and  disappears  in 
the  depths  of  a  neighboring  tree.  If  you  can  mark  his  position  you 
will  find  him  perched  motionless,  and  apparently  slightly  dazed.  After 
a  moment  he  recovers  and  begins  to  hop  about  the  tree  in  an  active 
search  for  his  favorite  fare  of  caterpillars.  He  is  especially  fond  of 
the  kind  which  make  nests  in  trees,  commonly  known  as  "  tent  cater- 
pillars," and  if  you  examine  the  conspicuous  homes  of  these  pests  you 
will  frequently  find  them  punctured  with  many  holes  made  by  the 
Cuckoo's  bill.  A  Cuckoo  I  shot  at  six  o'clock  one  September  morning 
had  the  partially  digested  remains  of  forty-three  of  these  caterpillars 
in  his  stomach. 

The  notes  of  the  Cuckoo  are  strikingly  characteristic,  and  while 
subject  to  much  variation  may  be  fairly  represented  by  the  syllables 
tut-tut^  tut-tut,  tut-tut,  tut-tut,  cl-uck-cl-uck-cl-uck,  cl-uck-cl-uck,  cl-uck, 
cow,  cow,  cow,  coiv,  cow,  cow.  It  is  not  usual,  however,  to  hear  the 
whole  song  given  at  once. 
16 


226  KINGFISHERS. 

388.  Coccyzus     erythrophthalxnus     (  Wils.).     Black  -  billed 

Cuckoo.     Ad. — Upper  parts  grayish  brown  with  a  slight  green  gloss ;  wings 

and  tail  the  same,  the 

Fig.  74.— Tail-feathers  of  Black-billed  Cuckoo.  550 ;  T.,  6-26 ;  B. from 

N.,  -74. 

Bemarhs. — This  species  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo  chiefly  by  the  absence  of  rufous  in  the  wings,  black  in  the  tail,  and 
yellow  in  the  lower  mandible. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Labrador,  and 
winters  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Washington,  rather  rare  S.  K.,  May  2  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  So 
E.,  May  3  to  Oct.  7.     Cambridge,  common  S.  E.,  May  15  to  Sept.  20. 

Nest.,  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding,  but  more  compactly  built ;  location 
the  same,  ^ggs^  two  to  five,  greenish  blue,  of  a  deeper  shade  than  those  of 
the  preceding  species,  1-14  x  -85. 

This  species  resembles  the  preceding  in  habits.  The  two  birds  may 
be  distinguished  in  life  by  the  differences  in  the  color  of  their  bills  and 
tails.  Mr.  William  Brewster  has  called  my  attention  to  an  easily  rec- 
ognizable difference  in  their  calls.  The  present  species  has  a  much 
softer  voice,  and  the  cow,  cow  notes  are  connected. 

The  Ani  {888.  CrotopTiaga  ani).,  a  common  species  in  the  Bahamas  and 
Greater  Antilles,  is  of  accidental  occurrence  in  Pennsylvania,  Florida,  and 
Louisiana.  Its  plumage  is  black  with  bluish  reflections,  the  tail  is  rounded, 
the  bill  high  and  thin,  the  depth  at  the  nostril  equaling  or  exceeding  the 
distance  from  the  nostril  to  the  tip  of  the  bill. 

Family  Alcedinid^.    Kingfishers. 

Kingfishers  are  most  numerous  in  the  Malay  Archipelago,  and  the 
majority  of  the  one  hundred  and  eighty  known  species  are  found  there. 
Only  eight  are  American,  and  seven  of  these  are  confined  to  the  tropics. 
They  are  solitary  birds  of  somewhat  local  habit.  All  the  American 
species  are,  as  their  name  implies,  fish-eaters,  and  are  rarely  found  far 
from  the  water.  Some  of  the  Old- World  species,  however,  are  forest- 
inhabiting  and  feed  on  small  insects,  mollusks,  etc. 

390.  Ceryle  alcyon  {Linn.).  Belted  Kingfisher.  (See  Fig.  35.1 
Ad.  $  . — Upper  parts  bluish  gray  ;  wings  with  small  white  spots,  most  of  the 
feathers  tipped  with  white,  the  inner  web  of  the  primaries  white  at  the  base ; 
tail-feathers  with  numerous  spots  and  broken  bands  of  white :  a  white  spot 
before  the  eye ;  throat  white,  this  color  passing  on  to  the  sides  of  the  neck 
and  nearly  meeting  on  the  back  of  the  neck  ;  a  band  across  the  breast,  and 


WOODPECKERS.  22? 

the  sides  bluish  gray — in  immature  specimens  tinged  with  rufous — lower 
breast  and  belly  white.  Ad.  9  . — Similar  to  the  male,  but  the  sides  and  a 
band  on  the  belly  rufous.    L.,  13-02;  W.,  6-17 ;  T.,  3-60  ;  B.,  2-00. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Labrador,  and  winters 
from  Virginia  to  South  America. 

Washington,  common  P.  K.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  1  to  Nov.  23 ; 
casual  in  winter.     Cambridge,  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  10  to  Oct. 

Neat.,  in  a  hole  in  a  bank,  about  six  feet  from  the  entrance.  Eggs.,  five 
to  eight,  white,  1'34  x  1-05. 

The  shores  of  wooded  streams  or  ponds  are  the  chosen  haunts  of 
the  Kingfisher.  Silently  he  perches  on  some  limb  overhanging  the 
water,  ever  on  the  alert  for  food  or  foe.  Paddle  toward  him  as  quietly 
as  you  please,  just  as  you  reach  his  danger  line  he  drops  from  his 
perch  and  with  loud,  rattling  call  flies  on  ahead.  This  may  be  re- 
peated several  times,  until  finally  the  limits  of  his  wanderings  are 
reached,  when  he  makes  a  wide  detour  and  returns  to  the  starting  point. 

The  Kingfisher  hunts  after  the  manner  of  the  Fish  Hawk.  In 
passing  over  the  water  it  needs  only  the  glint  of  a  shining  fin  or  scale 
just  beneath  the  surface  to  catch  his  watchful  eye.  On  quickly  mov- 
ing wings  he  hovers  over  the  place,  waiting  only  a  fair  chance  to 
plunge  on  the  unsuspecting  fish  below.  Emerging  from  the  water 
with  his  prey  in  his  bill,  he  shakes  the  spray  from  his  plumage,  and, 
with  an  exultant  rattle,  flies  away  to  some  favorite  perch. 


ORDER  PICI.     WOODPECKERS,   WRYNECKS,   ETC. 

Family  Picid^.    Woodpeckers. 

Woodpeckers  occur  in  all  wooded  parts  of  the  world  except  in  the 
Australian  region  and  Madagascar.  About  three  hundred  and  fifty 
species  are  known,  of  which  nearly  one  half  are  confined  to  the 
New  World.  Some  twenty-five  of  this  number  are  found  in  North 
America.  Woodpeckers  are  rather  solitary  birds,  but  are  sometimes 
found  associated  in  scattered  companies  during  their  migrations. 
Above  all  other  birds  they  are  especially  adapted  to  creep  or  climb. 
The  peculiar  structure  of  the  foot,  with  its  two  toes  directed  for- 
ward and  two  backward  (except  in  one  genus),  assists  them  in  cling- 
ing to  an  upright  surface,  while  the  pointed,  stiffened  tail-feathers 
serve  as  a  prop  when  the  bird  is  resting.  The  stout,  chisel-like  bill  is 
used  to  cut  away  wood  and  expose  the  hiding  places  of  grubs,  etc., 
when  the  long,  distensible  tongue  with  its  horny,  spearlike  tip  is 
thrust  in,  the  food  impaled  and  drawn  out.  The  vocal  powers  of 
Woodpeckers  are  limited,  and  the  bill  is  also  used  to  beat  the  long, 
rolling  call  which  is  their  love-song.    The  eggs  of  Woodpeckers  are 


228  WOODPECKERSo 

uniformly  white,  and  are  placed  in  a  hole,  generally  in  a  dead  tree  or 
limb,  hollowed  out  by  the  bird. 

KEY    TO   THE   SPECIES. 

I.  No  red  on  the  head  or  nape. 

A.  Entire  under  parts  black. 

a.  Wing  about  lO'OO,  bill  ivory-white, 

392.  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker  9  . 

B.  Under  parts  white,  without  black  spots  or  streaks. 

a.  Wing  under  4-00  ;  outer  tail-feathers  barred  with  black. 

8M.  Downy  Woodpecker  $  . 
■     b.  Wing  over  4-00 ;  outer  tail-feathers  white,  without  black  bars. 

393.  Hairy  Woodpecker  2 . 
S98b.  Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker  9  . 

C.  Under  parts  with  black  spots,  bars,  or  streaks. 

a.  Back  entirely  black     .     ,    400.  Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker. 

b.  Back  black  and  white. 

fti.  Outer  tail-feathers  entirely  white,  crown  yellow  or  spotted  with 

white 401.  Am.  Three-toed  Woodpecker. 

b^.  Outer  tail-feathers  barred  with  black,  no  black  patch   on  the 

breast,  ear-coverts  white  .  395.  Eed-cockaded  Woodpecker  9  . 
b^.  Outer  tail-feathers  black,  with  generally  a  narrow  white  margin  ; 

rump  white 406.  Ked-headed  Woodpecker  9  . 

b*.  Outer  tail-feathers  black  and  white,  a  large  black  patch  on  tlie 

breast .  402.  Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker  9 , 

II.  Whole  top  of  the  head  red. 

A.  Throat  red. 

a.  Primaries  spotted  with  white,  belly  yellowish. 

402.  Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker  $ . 

b.  Primaries  black,  rump  and  belly  white. 

40().  Eed-headed  Woodpecker  i . 

B.  Throat  white. 

a.  Breast  and  belly  black     ....    405.  Pileated  Woodpecker  S  . 

b.  Breast  black  or  blackish,  sides  streaked,  belly  yellowish  white. 

402.  Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker  9  . 

c.  Under  parts  tinged  with  red,  without  streaks  or  spots. 

409.  Red-bellied  Woodpecker  $  . 
(11.  Crown  black,  brown,  or  gray,  a  red  band  across  the  nape,  a  red  crest  on 
the  back  of  the  head,  or  small  patches  of  red  on  either  side  of  the 
nape. 

A.  Under  parts  black,  wing  over  8*00. 

a.  Bill  ivory-white   .....     392.  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker.  6  . 

b.  Bill  blackish 405.  Pileated  Woodpecker  9  . 

B.  Under  parts  more  or  less  spotted  or  streaked  with  black. 

a.  A  black  patch  on  the  breast,  throat  brown,  rump  white. 

412.  Flicker. 

b.  Head  black,  ear-coverts  white,  a  few  red  feathers  on  either  side  of 
the  nape 395.  Ked-coceaded  Woodpecker  6  . 


Hairy  Woodpecker. 
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker. 


WOODPECKERS.  229 

C.  Under  parts  white,  or  whitish  without  black  streaks  or  spots. 

a.  Crown  gray,  a  reddish  tinge  on  the  belly. 

409.  Red-bellied  Woodpeckeb  ? . 

b.  Crown  black. 

i».  Outer  tail-feathers  barred  with  black. 

394  Downy  Woodpecker  i . 
b^.  Outer  tail-feathers  white  ....     393.  Hairy  Woodpecker  3 . 

393^.  Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker  i  . 

392.  Campephilus  principalis  {Linn.).  Ivory-billed  Wood- 
pecker. Ad.  5. — Upper  parts  shining  black,  a  large  scarlet  crest;  a  white 
stripe  begins  below  the  eye  and,  passing  down  the  side  of  the  neck,  meets  its 
fellow  in  the  middle  of  the  back ;  ends  of  the  inner  primaries  and  the  end 
half  or  two  thirds  of  the  secondaries  white ;  outer  tail-feathers  very  short, 
the  central  ones  elongated  and  much  stiffened ;  bristles  over  the  nostrils 
white ;  bill  ivory-white ;  under  parts  shining  black.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but 
with  the  crest  black.    L.,  20-00  ;  W.,  10-00  ;  T.,  6-50  ;  B.,  2-75. 

Range. — "  Formerly  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  from  North  Carolina 
to  Texas ;  north  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  Missouri,  southern  Illinois,  and 
southern  Indiana.  Now  restricted  to  the  Gulf  States  and  the  lower  Mississippi 
Valley,  where  only  locally  distributed"  (A.  O.  U.).  (See  Hasbrouck,  Auk, 
viii,  1891,  pp.  174-186,  with  map.) 

Nest.^  in  the  higher  part  of  a  tree.  Eggs,  "1-31  x  -86"  (Eidgw.).  (See 
also  Maurice  Thompson's  A  Eed-headed  Family.) 

The  home  of  this  magnificeiit  Woodpecker  is  in  the  almost  limit- 
less cypress  forests  of  our  southern  coasts  and  river  valleys.  Even 
there  it  is  common  in  but  few  localities.  In  Florida  it  is  found  chiefly 
in  the  western  part  of  the  peninsula,  and  doubtless  occurs  in  greatest 
numbers  in  the  region  between  the  Suwanee  River  and  the  Gulf. 

The  Ivory-bill  is  a  wild,  shy  bird.  It  does  not  remain  long  in  one 
place,  and  during  the  day  ranges  over  an  extended  territory.  Its  call 
is  a  high,  rather  nasal,  ijap,  yap-yap,  sounding  in  the  distance  like  the 
note  of  a  penny  trumpet. 

393.  Dryobates  villosus  (Linn.).  Hairy  Woodpecker.  (See  Fig. 
37,  a.)  Ad.  3. — Upper  parts  black;  a  scarlet  band  on  the  nape;  middle  of 
the  back  white ;  wing-feathers  and  their  coverts  spotted  with  white ;  middle 
tail-feathers  black,  the  outer  ones  white ;  a  white  stripe  above  and  another 
below  the  eye ;  under  parts  white.  Ad.  ?  .—Similar,  but  without  scarlet  on 
the  back  of  the  neck.     L.,  9-40  ;  W.,  4-78  ;  T.,  3-30  ;  B.,  1-22. 

i?a« ^6.— Eastern  United  States,  from  the  northern  border  south  to  North 
Carolina. 

Washington,  rare  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  rare  P.  .E.  Cambridge,  uncommon 
W.  V. 

Nest,  generally  in  a  dead  tree.     Eggs,  four  to  six,  -95  x  -75. 

This  species  resembles  the  Downy  Woodpecker  in  habits,  but  is  less 
frequently  observed  out  of  the  woods.     Its  notes  are  noticeably  louder 


230  WOODPECKERS. 

than  the  Downy's,  and  when  one  is  familiar  with  both  there  is  no  diffi' 
culty  in  distinguishing  the  two  by  their  voices. 

In  speaking  of  the  difference  which  exists  between  the  rolling  tattoo 
of  some  Woodpeckers  Mr.  Brewster  says :  "  Thus,  P.  pubescens  has  a 
long,  unbroken  roll,  P.  villosus  a  shorter  and  louder  one  with  a  greater 
interval  between  each  stroke ;  while  S.  varius,  commencing  with  a  short 
roll,  ends  very  emphatically  with  five  or  six  distinct  disconnected  taps. 
In  this  latter  species  I  am  convinced  it  is  literally  a  call  of  recognition, 
as  I  have  repeatedly  seen  the  bird,  after  producing  it,  listen  a  moment 
when  it  would  be  answered  from  a  distance,  and  its  mate  would  shortly 
appear  and  join  it "  (Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  xi,  1875,  p.  144). 

393b.  D.  v.  a<iidubonii  {Swains.).  Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker. 
— Sbnilar  to  the  preceding,  but  smaller,  and  with  somewhat  less  white  in  the 
plumage.     L.,  8-10  ;  W.,  4-50  ;  T.,  2-80  ;  B.,  1'15. 

Range. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  north  to  South  Carolina. 

This  is  simply  a  small  southern  race  of  the  preceding  species.  It 
resembles  the  northern  form  in  habits,  but  is  much  more  common,  be- 
ing nearly  as  numerous  as  the  Downy  Woodpecker. 

In  the  northwestern  United  States  and  adjoining  British  provinces 
the  Hairy  Woodpecker  reaches  its  maximum  size,  and  is  known  as  the 
Northern  Hairy  Woodpecker  {D.  v.  leucomelas),  a  form  which  may 
occur  within  our  limits. 

394.  Dryobates  pubescens  (Linn.).  Downy  Woodpecker,  Ad. 
$. — Upper  parts  black,  a  scarlet  band  on  the  nape;  middle  of  the  back 
white ;  wing-feathers  and  their  coverts  spotted  with  white ;  middle  tail- 
feathers  black,  the  outer  ones  white,  barred  with  blach  /  a  white  stripe  above 
and  another  below  the  eye ;  under  parts  white.  Ad.  ?  . — Similar,  but  with- 
out scarlet  on  the  nape.     L.,  6-83  ;  W.,  3-70 ;  T.,  2-53  ;  B.,  -68. 

Remarlcs. — The  Downy  and  Hairy  Woodpeckers  diifer  in  coloration  only 
in  the  markings  of  the  outer  tail-feathers,  which  are  white,  barred  with  black 
in  the  former,  and  white  without  bars  in  the  latter ;  the  difference  in  size  be- 
tween the  two,  however,  is  always  diagnostic. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  from  Labrador  to  Florida;  resident 
throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  common  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  E.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon P.  E. 

Nest,  generally  in  a  dead  tree.     Eggs,  four  to  six,  -75  x  -60. 

Woodland,  orchards,  and  the  shade  trees  of  lawns  are  alike  fre- 
quented by  this,  the  smallest  and  most  familiar  of  our  Woodpeckers. 
Sometimes  he  tells  of  his  presence  by  an  industrious  tap,  tap — tapping 
as  he  patiently  digs  out  the  grubs  and  larvae  which  form  his  bill  of 
fare.  Again  he  hails  us  with  a  businesslike  peeh,  peek — a  note  closely 
resembling  the  sound  produced  by  a  marble  quarrier's  chisel,  and  which 


WOODPECKERS. 


231 


someiimes  is  prolonged  into  a  rattling  call.  Like  other  Woodpeckers, 
in  the  spring  he  beats  a  rolling  tattoo  on  a  resonant  limb,  sounding  a 
reveille  which  is  a  credit  to  so  small  a  drummer. 

The  Downy  is  a  sociable  Woodpecker,  and  when  the  gay  summer 
visitors  have  returned  to  their  southern  homes  and  the  wind  whistles 
drearily  through  the  leafless  trees,  he  joins  the  Chickadees  and  Nut- 
hatches, and  during  the  winter  they  are  inseparable  companions.  Per- 
haps they  share  with  him  the  snug  quarters  in  some  old  trunk  which 
he  has  hollowed  out  for  a  winter  home. 

395.  Dryobates  borealis  (  VieilL).  Eed-cockaded  Woodpecker. 
Ad.  6  .—Crown  black,  a  small  tuft  of  scarlet  feathers  on  either  side  of  the  hack 
of  the  head ;  back  barred  with  black  and  white ;  wings  spotted  with  black 
and  white ;  middle  tail-feathers  black,  outer  ones  with  broken  black  bars ;  ear 
region  white,  separated  from  the  white  throat  by  a  black  stripe  running  from 
the  bill  to  the  shoulder;  sides  and  under  tail-coverts  spotted  and  streaked 
with  black ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  white.  Ad.  $  .—Similar,  but  without 
scarlet  on  the  head.     L.,  8-40 ;  W.,  4-65 ;  T.,  3-10  ;    B.,  -80. 

Range. — Southern  United  States,  westward  to  Indian  Territory,  and  north 
ward  to  Tennessee  and  Virginia. 

Nest.,  in  the  higher  part  of  a  pine  tree.     Eggs.,  four  to  six,  -91  x  -68. 

This  species  is  a  common  inhabitant  of  the  "  piny  woods."  It  pre- 
fers the  higher  branches  of  the  trees,  and  frequently  hangs  head  down- 
ward while  feeding  on  a  cone  at  the  extremity  of  a  branch.  Its  call- 
note  suggests  the  yaiik,  yank,  of  the  White-bellied  Nuthatch,  but  is 
louder,  hoarser,  and  not  so  distinctly  enunciated. 

400.  Picoides  arcticus  (Stvains.).  Arctic  Three-toed  Wood- 
pecker. (See  Fig.  37,  h.)  Ad.  4  . — Toes  three,  two  in  front;  middle  of  the 
crown  with  a  bright  orange-yellow  patch  ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts  shining 
black;  vt^ing-feathers  spotted  with  white;  middle  tail-feathers  black,  outer 
ones  white,  except  at  the  base ;  a  white  line  from  the  nostril  passes  below  the 
eye ;  sides  barred  with  black  and  white  ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  white.  Ad. 
9  .^Similar,  but  without  orange-yellow  on  the  crown.  L.,  9-50 ;  W.,  5-10 ; 
T.,  3-40 ;  B.  from  N.,  -98. 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  south  to  the  northern  United  States. 

Nest.,  within  ten  feet  of  the  ground.     Eggs.,  four  to  six,  1-05  x  -78. 

"It  is  a  restless,  active  bird,  spending  its  time  generally  on  tho 
topmost  branches  of  the  tallest  trees,  without,  however,  confining  itself 
to  pines.  Although  it  can  not  be  called  shy,  its  habitual  restlessness 
renders  it  difficult  of  approach.  Its  movements  resemble  those  of  the 
Red-cockaded  Woodpecker,  but  it  is  still  more  petulant  than  that 
bird.  ...  Its  cries  also  somewhat  resemble  those  of  the  species  above 
mentioned,  but  are  louder  and  more  shrill,  like  those  of  some  small 
quadruped  suffering  great  pain.  .  .  . 

"Its  flight  is  rapid,  gliding,  and  deeply  undulating.  .  .  .  Now  and 


232  WOODPECKERS. 

then  it  will  fly  from  a  detached  tree  of  a  field  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance before  it  alights,  emitting  at  every  glide  a  loud,  shrill  note" 
(Audubon). 

401.  Ficoides  a/inericanus  ^r^Am.  American  Three-toed  Wood- 
pecker, Ad.  $  . — Toes  three,  two  in  front ;  head  spotted  with  white  and  with 
an  orange-yellow  patch  on  the  crown ;  back  barred  with  black  and  white  ; 
wing-feathers  spotted  with  black  and  white;  middle  tail-feathers  black, 
outer  ones  black  and  white  ;  region  below  the  eye  mixed  black  and  white ; 
sides  more  or  less  barred  with  black  and  white;  rest  of  the  under  parts 
white.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  crown  spotted  with  black  and  white,  and  with- 
out yellow.     L.,  8-75 ;  W.,  4-56 ;  T.,  3-10  ;  B.  from  N.,  -95. 

Range.— lSox\X\^x\\  North  America,  south  to  the  northern  United  States. 
Nest.,  in  the  lower  part  of  a  tree.     Eggs.,  white,  -92  x  -70  (Merriam,  Bull. 
Nutt.  Orn.  Club.,  iii,  1878,  p.  200). 

"  It  is  said  to  greatly  resemble  P.  villosus  in  habits,  except  that  it 
seeks  its  'food  principally  upon  decaying  trees  of  the  pine  tribe,  in 
which  it  frequently  makes  holes  large  enough  to  bury  itself.  It  is 
not  migratory  "  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

402.  Sphyrapicus  varius  {Linn.).  Yellow-bellied  Sapsijcker. 
Ad.  6  . — Crown  deep  scarlet,  back  irregularly  barred  with  black  and  yellow- 
ish white;  wing-feathers  spotted  with  white,  their  coverts  mostly  white; 
tail  black,  the  middle  feathers  with  broken  black  bars,  the  outer  ones  with 
white  margins  ;  a  white  line  from  the  bill  passes  below  the  eye ;  throat  car- 
dinal ;  breast  black  ;  sides  streaked  with  black  ;  belly  pale  yellow.  Ad.  9  . — 
Similar,  but  throat  white ;  crown  sometimes  black ;  outer  tail-feathers  with 
broken  white  bars.  Im. — Similar  to  ads.,  but  with  the  crown  dull  blackish, 
the  breast  brownish  gray  barred  with  black,  the  throat  whitish.  L.,  8-5fi ; 
W.,  4-87;  T.,  3-20;  B.,  92. 

^aw^e.— Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Massachusetts  northward, 
and  winters  from  Virginia  to  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Apl. ;  Oct.,  occasional  in  winter. 
Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  5  to  May  13;  Sept.  18  to  Oct.  23;  casual  in 
winter.     Cambridge,  not  uncommon  T.  V.,  Apl.  and  Oct. 

Nest^  about  forty  feet  from  the  ground.     Eggs.,  five  to  seven,  -87  x  -67. 

As  migrants,  Sapsuckers  are  rather  inconspicuous.  They  frequent 
living  trees,  where  they  are  concealed  by  the  foliage  and  their  weak 
call-note  is  not  likely  to  attract  attention. 

On  reaching  their  summer  homes  in  the  spring  their  character 
changes,  and  Dr.  Merriam  speaks  of  them  as  "noisy,  rollicking  fel- 
lows ;  they  are  always  chasing  one  another  among  the  trees,  screaming 
meanwhile  at  the  tops  of  their  voices"  (Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  iv,  1879, 
p.  2).  Mr.  Brewster  describes  the  note  of  the  adults  at  this  season  as 
'*  a  clear,  ringing  cleur,  repeated  five  or  six  times  in  succession  " ; 
while  young  and  old  utter  "  a  low,  snarling  cry  that  bears  no  very  dis- 


WOODPECKERS.  233 

tant  resemblance  to  the  mew  of  the  Catbird  "  (Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club^ 
i,  1876,  p.  69). 

The  Sapsucker  feeds  largely  on  the  juices  of  trees,  which  it  obtains 
by  perforating  the  bark.  (See  Bolles,  Auk,  viii,  1891,  p.  256;  ix,  1892, 
p.  110.) 

405.  Ceophlceus  pilea>tus(Xm7i.)<   Pileated  Woodpecker.   Ad.  $  . 

— Upper  parts  blackish  fuscous;  whole  top  of  the  head  scarlet,  the  feathers 
lengthened  to  form  a  crest ;  a  narrow  white  stripe  bordering  this  crest  sepa- 
rates it  from  the  fuscous  ear-coverts ;  a  stripe  beginning  at  the  nostril  and 
passing  down  the  sides  of  the  neck  to  the  shoulders  is  tinged  with  yellow 
before  the  eye  and  is  white  back  of  the  eye;  it  is  separated  from  the  white 
throat  by  a  scarlet  stripe  at  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible;  basal  half  of  the 
wing-feathers  white;  under  parts  fuscous,  the  feathers  sometimes  lightly 
margined  with  white ;  bill  horn-color.  Ad.  $  . — Similar,  but  without  red  on 
the  fore  part  of  the  crown  or  at  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible.  L.,  17'00 ; 
W.,  8-90;  T.,  6-20;  B.,  1-85. 

Range. — "  Formerly  whole  wooded  region  of  North  America  ;  now  rare  or 
extirpated  in  the  more  thickly  settled  parts  of  the  Eastern  States." 

Washington,  rare  P,  K. 

iVes^,  twenty-five  to  eighty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  1-30 
X  -94. 

This  species  is  common  only  in  the  wilder  parts  of  its  range.  In 
the  hummocks  and  cypress  swamps  of  Florida  it  occurs  in  numbers. 
There,  contrary  to  the  experience  of  Audubon,  I  found  it  by  no  means 
a  wild  bird.  Indeed,  Flickers  were  more  difficult  to  approach.  On 
the  Suwanee  River,  in  March,  I  have  called  these  birds  to  me  by  sim- 
ply clapping  my  slightly  closed  palms,  making  a  sound  in  imitation 
of  their  tapping  on  a  resonant  limb. 

The  flight  of  this  species  is  rather  slow,  but  usually  direct,  not 
undulating,  as  in  most  Woodpeckers.  When  under  way  the  white 
markings  of  the  wings  show  conspicuously.  Their  usual  call-note  is  a 
sonorous  cow-cow-coiv,  repeated  rather  slowly  many  times,  suggesting 
a  somewhat  similar  call  of  the  Flicker's.  Like  the  Flicker,  they  have 
also  a  ivtcheiv  note  uttered  when  two  birds  come  together. 

406.  MelanerpeserythrocephalusfZi«».)-  Red-headed  Wood- 
pecker. Ad. — Head,  neck,  throat,  and  upper  breast  deep  red ;  upper  back, 
primaries,  bases  of  the  secondaries,  and  wing-coverts  bluish  black ;  end  half 
of  the  secondaries,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts  white;  tail  black,  the  feath- 
ers more  or  less  tipped  or  margined  with  white;  lower  breast  and  belly  white, 
the  middle  of  the  latter  generally  tinged  with  reddish.  Im. — Eed  head  and 
neck  of  the  adult  replaced  by  mixed  grayish  brown  and  fuscous ;  upper  back 
bluish  black,  barred  with  ashy ;  primaries  and  wing-coverts  black  ;  end  half 
of  the  secondaries  irregularly  barred  with  black  ;  tail  black,  generally  tipped 
with  white ;  lower  breast  and  belly  white,  more  or  less  streaked  or  spotted 
with  fuscous.     L.,  9-75  ;  W.,  5-52 ;  T.,  3-30 ;  B.,  1-17. 


234  WOODPECKERS. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  northern  New 
York  and  Manitoba ;  winters  from  Virginia,  and  occasionally  from  northern 
New  York  southward. 

Washington,  rather  common  S.  K.,  rare  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  rare  P.  K., 
common  in  fall,  Aug.  27  to  Oct.  12.  Cambridge,  irregular  at  all  seasons; 
sometimes  common  in  fall. 

Nest.,  generally  in  a  dead  tree.    Eggs^  four  to  six,  1;00  x  -75. 

Give  a  bird  an  abundance  of  its  favorite  food,  and  its  movements 
no  longer  seem  to  be  governed  by  the  calendar.  Red-headed  Wood- 
peckers were  supposed  to  migrate  southward  in  the  fall  and  pass  the 
winter  south  of  Maryland  until  Dr.  Merriam,  in  his  interesting  ac- 
count *  of  the  habits  of  this  species,  told  us  that  in  Lewis  County, 
northern  New  York,  their  abundance  in  winter  was  in  no  way  affected 
by  the  severity  of  the  weather,  but  was  entirely  dependent  upon  the 
success  of  the  crop  of  beechnuts  which  constitute  their  food. 

Indeed,  few  birds  seem  better  able  to  adapt  themselves  to  their 
surroundings.  They  change  their  fare  and  habits  with  the  season, 
and  to  the  accomplishments  of  Woodpeckers  add  those  of  Flycatchers 
and  fruit-eaters.  We  should  expect,  therefore,  to  find  them  very  gen- 
erally distributed,  but  in  the  Northern  States  they  show  an  evident 
choice  for  certain  localities,  and  may  be  wanting  over  wide  stretches 
of  intervening  territory. 

They  are  noisy,  active  birds,  and  their  loud,  rolling,  tree-toadlike 
call,  ker-r-ruck,  kei'-r-ruck,  and  bright  colors  combine  to  render  them 
conspicuous.  When  on  the  wing  the  white  secondaries  of  both  adult 
and  immature  birds  make  a  striking  field  mark. 

409.  Melanerpes  carolinus  {Linn.).    Eed-bellied  Woodpecker. 

^ji^d.^  ^  . — Whole  top  of  the  head  and  back  of  the  neck  bright  scarlet;  back 
regularly  barred  with  black  and  white ;  primaries  black  at  the  end,  white, 
irregularly  barred  with  black,  at  the  base ;  secondaries  black,  regularly  spotted 
and  barred  with  white ;  upper  tail-coverts  white,  with  streaks  or  arrowheads 
of  black ;  outer  tail-feathers  and  inner  vanes  of  the  middle  ones  irregularly 
marked  with  broken  black  and  white  bars ;  cheeks  and  under  parts  dull  ashy 
white,  the  region  about  the  base  of  the  bill,  the  middle  of  the  belly,  and  some- 
times the  breast  more  or  less  tinged  with  red.  Ad.  $  .^Similar,  but  with  the 
crown  grayish  ashy,  the  scarlet  confined  to  the  nape  and  nostrils.  Im. — Simi- 
lar, but  with  the  belly  sometimes  tinged  with  bufty  instead  of  red.  L.,  9-50  ; 
W.,  5-00;  T.,  3-40;  B.,  1-10. 

^a??p'e.— Eastern  United  States,  breeding  from  Florida  to  Maryland,  and 
in  the  interior  to  Ontario  and  southern  Dakota ;  occasionally  strays  to  Massa- 
chusetts ;  winters  from  Virginia  and  southern  Ohio  southward. 

Washington,  locally  common  P.  E.     Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  record. 

Nest,  in  trees,  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  six, 
1-05  X  -75. 


*  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  iii,  1878,  pp.  123-138. 


WOODPECKERS.  235 

This  is  a  common  bird  in  our  Southern  States.  It  inhabits  alike 
coniferous  and  deciduous  growths,  but  prefers  the  latter.  It  ascends 
a  tree  in  a  curious,  jerky  fashion,  accompanying  each  upward  move 
by  a  hoarse  chuh-chuh. 

412*  Cola>ptes   a^uraitus    (Linn.).    Flicker;   High-hole;   Clape; 

Yellow-hammer;  Golden-winged  Woodpecker.  Ad.  $. — Top  of  the  head 
ashy  gray,  a  bright  scarlet  band  across  the  back  of  the  neck  ;  back,  wing- 
coverts,  and  exposed  part  of  secondaries  brownish  gray,  barred  witli  black; 
rump  white ;  primaries  black  externally,  the  inner  surface  of  tlie  wing  and 
the  shafts  of  the  feathers  yellow  ;  upper  tail-coverts  barred  or  streaked  witli 
black  and  white ;  tail  black  above,  yellow  tipped  with  black  below,  the  outei 
edges  of  the  feathers  slightly  margined  or  barred  with  white ;  sides  of  the 
head,  throat,  and  upper  breast  vinaceous ;  a  broad  black  stripe  on  either  side 
of  the  throat  from  the  base  of  the  bill,  and  a  broad  black  crescent  across  the 
breast ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  vinaceous,  and 
thickly  spotted  with  black.  Ad.  ? . — Similar,  but  without  the  black  streaks 
on  the  side  of  the  throat.    L.,  12-00 ;  W.,  6-00 ;  T.,  4-00 ;  B.,  1-40. 

Kemarks. — Exceptional  specimens  have  a  few  red  feathers  in  the  throat 
stripes.  A  male  from  Louisiana  has  this  mark  entirely  red  and  the  head  gray- 
ish brown,  while  another  specimen  from  Toronto  has  half  the  tail  orange-red. 
These  unusual  markings  are  supposed  to  be  due  to  hybridization  of  our  Flicker 
with  the  western  or  Eed-shafted  Flicker,  which  resembles  the  eastern  species 
in  pattern  of  coloration,  but  has  the  crown  brownish  gray  or  grayish  brown, 
the  throat  stripes  scarlet,  the  throat  and  breast  gray,  the  under  surface  of 
wings  and  tail  dull  red,  and  lacks  the  red  nuchal  band.  (See  an  important 
paper  on  the  relationships  of  these  birds  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  in  the  Bull.  Am. 
Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  iv,  1892,  pp.  21-44). 

Bange. — North  America,  west  to  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Kocky  Mountains 
and  Alaska ;  breeds  throughout  its  range,  and  winters  from  Hlinois  and  Massa- 
chusetts southward. 

Washington,  common  S.  E.,  rare  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E.,  Mch. 
25  to  Oct.  30 ;  a  few  winter.     Cambridge,  very  common  S.  E.,  common  W.  V. 

Nest^  in  trees,  about  ten  feet  from  the  groimd,  frequently  in  orchards. 
Eggs.,  live  to  nine,  1-10  x  -86. 

The  habits,  notes,  and  colors  of  this  well-known  bird  are  reflected 
in  the  popular  names  which  have  been  applied  to  it  throughout  its 
wide  range.  No  less  than  thirty-six  of  these  aliases  have  been  re- 
corded, and  many  have  doubtless  escaped  the  compiler. 

The  Flicker  is  a  bird  of  character.  Although  a  Woodpecker,  he 
is  too  original  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  others  of  his  tribe.  They 
do  not  frequent  the  ground,  but  that  is  no  reason  why  he  should  not 
humor  his  own  terrestrial  propensities,  and  we  may  tlierefore  fre- 
quently flush  him  from  the  earth,  when,  with  a  low  chuckle,  he  goes 
Ijoanding  off  through  the  air,  his  white  rump  showing  conspicuously 
as  he  flies. 


236  NIGHTHAWKS,   WHIP-POOR-WILLS,  ETC. 

The  Flicker,  like  other  Woodpeckers,  beats  a  rolling  tattoo  in  the 
spring,  but  his  vocal  song  proper  is  a  rapidly-repeated,  mellow  cuh- 
cuh-cuh-cuh-cuh,  etc.,  as  springlike  a  sound  as  the  peeping  of  frogs. 
His  usual  note  is  a  vigorous,  nasal  kee-yer.  It  recalls  frosty  fall  morn- 
ings when  the  High-holes  are  gathering  to  feed  on  the  woodbine  and 
pepperidge  berries.  Approaching  their  feeding  grounds,  one  may  hear 
the  "  Flicker  "  note.  It  can  be  closely  imitated  by  the  swishing  of  a 
willow  wand :  weecheiv^  iveechew,  weechew.  I  never  remember  hearing 
a  bird  utter  this  note  when  alone.  It  is  accompanied  by  the  oddest 
gestures,  as  with  tails  stiffly  spread  the  birds  bob  and  bow  to  each 
other. 


ORDER  MACROCHIRES.     GOATSUCKERS,   SWIFTS, 
HUMMINGBIRDS,   ETC. 

Family  Oaprimulgid^.    Nighthawks,  Whip-poor-wills, 

ETC. 

Goatsuckers  are  found  in  most  parts  of  the  world,  but  are  more 
numerously  represented  in  the  tropics.  Some  eighty-five  species  are 
known,  of  which  about  one  half  are  American,  though  only  seven 
reach  North  America.  Most  of  the  American  species  are  forest-inhab- 
iting, passing  the  day  upon  the  leaves  or  perched  lengthwise  upon  the 
branches  of  trees,  where  their  dull,  blended  colors  harmonize  with 
their  surroundings.  The  Nighthawks,  however,  are  equally  at  home 
in  treeless  countries.  Nighthawks  feed  high  in  the  air,  like  Swifts, 
while  other  species  frequent  the  borders  of  forests  or  clearings,  where 
they  feed  nearer  the  ground.  All  the  species  capture  their  food  of 
insects  on  the  wing,  their  enormous  mouths  and  the  long,  stiffened 
bristles,  which  in  some  species  beset  its  base,  especially  adapting  them 
to  this  mode  of  feeding.  Many  of  the  species  are  possessed  of  remark- 
able vocal  powers,  and  their  cries  are  among  the  most  striking  of  bird 
notes. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

A.  A  white  spot  in  the  wing.    420.  Nighthawk.    420c.  Florida  Nighthawk. 

B.  Iso  white  spot  in  the  wing;  primaries  spotted  with  rufous. 

a.  Wing  under  7*50 417.  Whip-poor-will. 

b.  Wing  over  7"50 416.  Chuck- will's-widow. 

416.  Antrostomus  carolinensis  {Gmel.).  Chuck-will's- widow. 
Ad.  $ . — Upper  parts  streaked  with  black  and  finely  mottled  with  ochraceous- 
bufi"  and  black ;  primaries  black,  with  broken  rufous  bars ;  tail  mottled  with 
black  and  ochraceous-buff,  the  end  half  of  all  but  the  two  middle  feathers 
white,  more  or  less  washed  with  bufty  on  the  inner  vane  ;  under  parts  mot- 


3te^'4 1  t 


H^-''  k^i 


o 
o 

3 


NIGHTHAWKS,   WHIP-POOR-WILLS,  ETC.  237 

tied  with  black,  ochraceous,  and  cream-bufi';  an  imperfect  whitish  band 
across  the  upper  breast ;  base  of  the  bill  beset  with  long,  stiffened  bristles, 
the  basal  half  of  these  bristles  grown  with  hairlihe  branches.  Ad.  9  • — Similar, 
but  with  no  white  patches  in  the  tail,  the  upper  breast  with  an  ochraceous- 
buff  instead  of  white  band.    L.,  12-00 ;  W.,  8-50  ;  T.,  6-00  ;  B.,  -40. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  from  North  Carolina  and  Illinois 
southward ;  winters  from  our  southern  borders  southward ;  accidental  in 
Massachusetts. 

Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  record,  Dec. 

Eggs.,  two,  laid  on  the  ground  or  leaves,  in  woods  or  thickets,  dull  white, 
with  delicate,  obscure  pale  lilac  markings,  and  a  few  distinct  brownish-gray 
spots,  1-40  X  -98. 

Generally  speaking,  this  species  resembles  the  Whip-poor-will  in 
habits.  Its  notes  are  quite  similar  to  those  of  that  species,  but  are 
louder,  less  rapidly  uttered,  and  each  call  has  an  additional  syllable. 
Its  gape  is  enormous,  the  wide-open  mouth  of  an  adult  measuring 
about  two  inches  from  corner  to  corner.  For  this  reason  it  can  swal- 
low large  objects  with  ease,  and  both  Hummingbirds  and  Sparrows 
have  been  found  in  Chuck-will's-widow's  stomach.  Perhaps  they  were 
mistaken  for  large  moths. 

417.  Antrostomus  vociferus  (  Wils.).  Whip-poor-will.  Ad.  $. 
— Upper  parts  streaked  with  black,  the  head  finely  mottled  with  black  and 
white,  the  back  mottled  with  ochraceous-buff  and  black ;  primaries  black, 
with  broken  rufous  bars ;  tail  irregularly  barred  with  black  and  mottled  with 
whitish  or  cream-buff';  end  half  of  three  outer  feathers  white;  black  on  the 
outer  vane  of  the  outer  feather  extending  farther  down  than  on  the  others ; 
throat  and  breast  blackish,  finely  mottled  with  cream-buff  or  ochraceous-buff"; 
a  narrow  white  band  across  the  upper  breast ;  belly  cream-buff,  irregularly 
barred  with  blackish;  base  of  the  bill  beset  with  long,  stiffened  bristles, 
which  are  without  hairlike  branches.  Ad.  $  . — Similar,  but  three  outer  tail- 
feathers  narrowly  tipped  with  ochraceous-buff";  band  on  the  throat  cream- 
buff  instead  of  white.    L.,  9*75  ;  W.,  6-08 ;  T.,  4  65 ;  B.,  -37. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  north  to  New  Brunswick  and  Manitoba ; 
winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  15  to  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  K., 
Apl.  19  to  Oct.  17.     Cambridge,  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  28  to  Sept.  20. 

Eggs,  two,  laid  on  the  ground  or  leaves,  in  woods  or  thickets  ;  dull  white, 
with  delicate,  obscure  lilac  markings  and  a  few  distinct  brownish  gray  spots, 
1-18  X  -84. 

In  walking  through  rather  densely  grown  woods  I  have  sometimes 
been  surprised  by  having  a  Whip-poor-will  fly  up  from  beneath  my 
feet  and  disappear  in  the  surrounding  growth.  I  say  surprised,  be- 
cause the  bird's  flight  is  as  noiseless  as  a  moth's,  and  this  unusual, 
ghostly  silence  is  almost  as  startling  as  the  whir  of  a  Grouse. 

The  Whip-poor-will's  day  begins  when  the  sun  goes  down.    Then 


238  NlGHTllAWKS,   WHIP-POOR-WILLS,  ETC. 

he  passes  out  into  bushy  fields  near  his  home,  and,  flying  low,  catches 
his  supper  on  the  wing.  Between  courses  he  rests  on  some  low  perch, 
and  gives  utterance  to  the  notes  familiar  to  many  who  have  never 
seen  their  author.  Whip -poor-iviW ,  whip' -poor-will'  he  calls,  rapidly 
and  with  unexpected  snap  and  vigor.  If  one  is  quite  near  the  singer, 
a  preliminary  chuck  may  be  heard  before  each  call.  These  notes  are 
given  for  about  two  hours  after  sunset  and  for  a  short  time  before 
sunrise. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that,  in  spite  of  the  marked  difference  in  their 
habits  and  notes,  the  Nighthawk  and  Whip-poor-will  are  frequently 
considered  to  be  the  same  species.  It  is  not  the  only  case,  however, 
where  the  notes  of  some  species  difficult  of  observation  have  been 
attributed  to  a  species  whose  habits  render  it  conspicuous. 

420.  Chordeiles  virginianus  (Gmel.).  Nighthawk;  Bull-bat. 
(See  Fig.  38.)  Ad.  6  .—Upper  parts  black,  irregularly  marked  with  whitish, 
cream-buif,  or  ochraceous-butf ;  primaries  fuscous,  crossed  in  the  middle  by  a 
conspicuous  white  bar  which  rarely  reaches  the  outer  vane  of  the  first  pri- 
mary ;  tail  fuscous  or  black,  with  broken  bars  of  cream-bufl  and  a  white  band 
near  the  end  on  all  but  the  middle  feathers ;  throat  with  a  broad  white  band ; 
chin  and  upper  breast  black,  the  feathers  tipped  with  ochraceous-buff,  cream- 
buflF,  or  white  ;  the  rest  of  the  under  parts  barred  with  black  and  white,  some- 
times tinged  with  bufi".  Ad.  $  . — Similar,  but  with  no  white  on  the  tail, 
throat-patch  ochraceous-buff,  under  parts  more  or  less  washed  with  ochra- 
ceous-buff.    L.,  10-00 ;  W.,  7-85 ;  T.,  4-60 ;  B.,  -25. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Labra- 
dor ;  winters  in  South  America. 

Washington,  not  common  S.  R. ;  abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  20  to  Oct.  Sing 
Sing,  common  S.  E.,  May  9  to  Oct.  11.  Cambridge,  not  uncommon  S.  R.,  May 
15  to  Sept.  25. 

l^ggs^  two,  laid  on  the  bare  ground  or  a  flat  rock  in  open  fields,  rarely  on 
the  roof  of  a  house,  dull  white,  evenly  marked  with  small,  irregularly  shaped 
blotches  or  fine  specklings  of  grayish  brown  or  brownish  gray,  1-20  x  -86. 

In  wooded  regions  the  Nighthawk  passes  the  day  perched  length- 
wise on  a  limb,  but  on  the  plains  he  roosts  upon  the  ground,  where  his 
colors  harmonize  with  his  surroundings. 

Soon  after  sunset  he  mounts  high  in  the  air  to  course  for  insects. 
Batlike  he  flies  erratically  about,  and  at  more  or  less  regular  intervals 
utters  a  loud  nasal  peent,  this  call  being  followed  by  two  or  three  un- 
usually quick,  flitting  wing-beats.  Long  after  the  light  has  faded 
from  the  western  horizon  we  may  hear  this  voice  from  the  starlit 
heavens,  for  the  Nighthawk  is  one  of  our  few  truly  nocturnal  bird*;. 

Occasionally  the  pee^^^s  are  given  more  rapidly,  and  after  calling 
several  times  in  close  succession  the  bird  on  half-closed  wings  dives 
earthward  with  such  speed  that  one  fears  for  his  safety;  but  just 


SWIFTS.  239 

before  the  ground  is  reached  he  cheeks  his  rapid  descent  by  an  abrupt 
turn,  and  on  leisurely  wing  again  mounts  upward  to  repeat  this  game 
of  sky-coasting.  At  the  moment  the  turn  is  made  one  may  hear  a 
rushing,  booming  sound,  which,  as  writers  have  remarked,  can  be  imi- 
tated in  tone  by  blowing  across  the  bung-hole  of  any  empty  barrel.  It 
is  made  by  the  passage  of  the  air  through  the  bird's  primaries. 

In  late  summer  Nighthawks  gather  in  large  flocks  and  begin  their 
southward  migrations.  When  flying  the  white  mark  on  their  primaries 
is  a  conspicuous  character,  and  has  the  appearance  of  being  a  hole  in 
the  bird's  wing. 

420b.  C  v.  chapinani  {Coues).  Florida  Nighthawk;  Bull-bat. 
— Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  smaller,  and  with  the  white  and  cream-buff 
markings  of  the  upper  parts  more  numerous.     L.,  8*60  ;  W.,  7*10  ;  T.,  4-10. 

Range. — Breeds  in  Florida  and  westward  on  the  Gulf  coast ;  south  in  win- 
ter to  South  America. 

The  Westekn  Nighthawk  {4^0a.  C.  v.  Jienri/i),  a  near  relative  of  our  spe- 
cies, has  been  recorded  from  Waukegan,  111. 

Family  Micropodid^.    Swifts. 

The  seventy-five  known  species  of  Swifts  are  distributed  through- 
out the  greater  part  of  the  world.  About  one  half  this  number  are 
American,  but  only  four  are  found  in  North  America.  Swifts  are 
generally  found  associated  in  scattered  companies,  and  when  roosting 
or  nesting  are  eminently  gregarious.  Hollow  trees  and  caves  are  their 
natural  retreats,  but  in  some  parts  of  the  world  chimneys  are  now  used 
exclusively. 

They  feed  entirely  while  flying,  and  with  their  unusually  long 
wings  and  small,  compactly  feathered  bodies  possess  unrivaled  powers 
of  flight.  Swifts  are  popularly  confused  with  Swallows,  but  the  re- 
semblance is  only  superficial  and  exists  chiefly  in  the  similarity  of 
their  feeding  habits,  while  the  structural  differences  between  the  two 
are  numerous  and  important. 

423.  Chaetura  pelagica  (Linn.).  Chimney  Swift;  Chimney 
"Swallow."  (See  Fig.  39.)  Ad. — Entire  plumage  fuscous,  more  grayish  on 
the  throat ;  a  sooty  black  spot  before  the  eye ;  shafts  of  the  tail-feathers  ex- 
tending beyond  the  vanes.    L.,  5-43  ;  W.,  4-94 ;  T.,  1-90 ;  B.  from  N.,  -15. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Labrador ;  win- 
ters in  Central  America. 

Washington,  abundant  S.  E.,  Apl.  15  to  Oct.  10.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  E.,  Apl.  19  to  Oct.  23.     Cambridge,  abundant  S.  E.,  Apl.  25  to  Sept.  20. 

Nest.,  a  bracketlike  basket  of  dead  twigs  glued  together  with  saliva;  at- 
tached to  the  wall  of  a  chimney,  generally  about  ten  feet  from  the  top,  by 


240 


HUMMINGBIRDS. 


the  gummy  secretion  of  the  bird's  salivary  glands.     Eggs^  four  to  six,  white, 
•80  X  -50. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  give  any  aids  to  the  identification  of  a  bird  as 
well  known  as  the  Chimney  Swift,  or,  as  it  is  more  frequently  called, 
"  Chimney  Swallow."  It  is  not,  however,  a  Swallow,  but  a  Swift,  and 
its  structural  relations  are  with  the  Hummingbirds  and  not  with  the 
Passerine  Swallows. 

Few  sights  in  the  bird-world  are  more  familiar  than  the  bow-and- 
arrow-like  forms  of  these  rapidly  flying  birds  silhoueted  against  the  sky. 
They  are  most  active  early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  afternoon, 
when  one  may  hear  their  rolling  twitter  as  they  course  about  overhead. 
Sometimes  they  sail  with  wings  held  aloft  over  their  backs,  and  some- 
times, it  is  said,  they  use  their  wings  alternately.  It  is  a  common 
thing  to  see  a  trio  of  birds  flying  together,  but  it  has  never  been  ascer- 
tained that  the  Chimney  Swift  is  polygamous. 

In  some  localities  Chimney  Swifts  congregate  in  large  flocks,  mak- 
ing their  headquarters  in  a  disused  chimney  which  morning  and  even- 
ing they  leave  and  return  to  in  a  body.  In  perching  they  cling  to  the 
side  of  the  chimney,  using  the  spine-pointed  tails,  as  Woodpeckers  do, 
for  a  support.  The  habit  of  frequenting  chimneys  is,  of  course,  a 
recent  one,  and  the  substitution  of  this  modern,  artificial  home  for 
hollow  trees,  illustrates  the  readiness  with  which  a  bird  may  take  ad- 
vantage of  a  favoring  change  in  its  environment. 

Family  Trochilid^.    Hummingbirds. 

Hummingbirds  are  found  only  in  the  New  World.  About  five 
hundred  species  are  known.  They  range  from  Alaska  to  Patagonia, 
but  are  most  numerous  in  the  Andean  regions  of  Colombia  and  Ecua- 
dor. Seventeen  species  are  found  in  the  United  States ;  only  eight  of 
these  advance  beyond  our  Mexican  border  States,  and  but  one  species 
occurs  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

Several  species  inhabit  the  depths  of  dark  tropical  forests,  but  as 
a  rule  they  are  found  with  the  flowers  which  bloom  in  the  clearings, 
or  far  overhead  in  the  sunlight.  They  are  not  gregarious,  but  an 
abundance  of  food  sometimes  brings  large  numbers  of  them  together, 
when  the  air  becomes  animated  with  their  rapidly  moving  forms. 
The  smaller  species  fly  so  swiftly  that  their  wings  are  lost  in  hazy  cir- 
cles, and  it  is  difficult  for  the  human  eye  to  follow  their  course.  The 
flight  of  the  larger  species  is  less  insectlike,  and  each  wing-beat  can 
be  detected.  As  a  rule  their  voice  is  a  weak  squeak  or  excited  chip- 
pering,  but  some  of  the  tropical  species  have  songs  of  decided  charac- 
ter which  they  sing  with  much  energy. 

Hummingbirds  feed  largely  on  insects,  which  they  generally  cap- 


HUMJNJINGBIKDS.  241 

ture  in  flowers,  but  many  species  catch  insects  on  the  wing  or  pick 
them  from  beneath  leaves.  They  also  feed  on  the  juices  of  flowers. 
All  the  species  whose  nesting  habits  are  known  lay  two  white  eggs. 

Strangely  enough,  these  beautiful  little  creatures  are  possessed  of  a 
most  unfortunate  disposition  which  frequently  leads  them  to  attack 
any  bird  they  fancy  is  trespassing  on  their  domain.  They  know  no 
fear,  and  with  equal  courage  rush  at  one  of  their  kind  or  a  passing 
Hawk. 

438.  Trochilus  colubris  {Linn.).  Euby-throated  Hummingbird. 
(See  Fig.  40.)  Ad.  3.— Upper  parts  bright,  shining  green;  wings  and  tail 
fuscous,  with  purplish  reflections ;  throat  beautiful  metallic  ruby-red,  bor- 
dered on  the  breast  by  whitish  ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  dusky,  washed  with 
greenish  on  the  sides.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  without  ruby-red  on  the  throat, 
/m.— Similar  to  the  female,  but  with  the  upper  parts  more  bronzy.  L.,  3-74  ; 
W.,  1-54 ;  T.,  1-15 ;  B.,  67. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Labrador  ;  win- 
ters from  southern  Florida  to  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  28  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E., 
Apl.  30  to  Oct.  3.     Cambridge,  uncommon  S.  E.,  May  12  to  Sept. 

Nest.1  of  plant  down,  covered  externally  with  lichens  and  firmly  wound 
with  almost  invisible  plant  fibers ;  generally  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet  from 
the  ground,  saddled  on  a  limb.     Eggs.,  two,  white,  -50  x  -35. 

The  Ruby-throat  needs  no  song.  Its  beauty  gives  it  distinction, 
and  its  wings  make  music.  Its  only  note,  so  far  as  I  know,  is  a 
squeak,  expressive  of  distrust  or  excitement.  It  has  no  rival  in  eastern 
North  America,  and  is  to  be  confounded  with  nothing  but  sphinx  (hum- 
mingbird) moths.  One  hears  of  "  Hummingbirds  "  seen  in  the  evening 
about  flower  beds.  The  mistake  is  not  unnatural,  and  a  correction  is 
sometimes  received  with  incredulity.  The  birds  spend  but  a  com- 
paratively small  part  of  the  time  upon  the  wing.  Whoever  watches  a 
female  busy  about  her  nest  will  see  her  constantly  perching  here  and 
there  in  certain  branches  of  the  tree,  preening  her  plumage  and  look- 
ing about  her.  The  male,  at  the  same  season,  forgetful,  to  all  appear- 
ance, of  his  conjugal  and  parental  duties,  may  be  found  at  home  day 
after  day  on  a  dead  twig  in  some  tall  tree,  where  he  sits  so  constantly 
as  to  make  the  observer  wonder  what  he  can  be  about,  and  when,  if 
3ver,  he  takes  his  food.  Further  investigation,  however,  will  show 
:hat  he  makes  frequent  and  regular  rounds  of  favorite  feeding  places. 
A  tall  blueberry  bush,  for  example,  will  be  visited  at  short  intervals 
as  long  as  the  observer  has  patience  to  stand  beside  it.  The  Hum- 
mingbird is  curiously  fearless.  Sometimes  one  will  probe  a  flower 
held  in  the  hand,  and  when  they  fly  into  houses,  as  they  pretty  often 
do,  they  manifest  but  the  smallest  degree  of  suspicion,  and  will  feed 
almost  at  once  upon  sugar  held  between  the  lips.  The  old  bird  feeds 
17 


242  FLYCATCHERS. 

the  young  by  regurgitation — a  frightful-looking  act — the  food  consist- 
ing largely  of  minute  insects.  The  young  remain  in  the  nest  for  some 
three  weeks,  and  on  leaving  it  are  at  once  at  home  on  the  wing. 

Bradford  Torrey. 


ORDER  PASSERES.     PERCHING  BIRDS. 

Family  Tyrannid^.    Flycatchers. 

From  the  systematist's  standpoint  Flycatchers  are  songless  Perch- 
ing Birds.  It  does  not  follow  that  they  are  voiceless,  or  even  truly 
songless,  but  that,  having  the  voice-organ  or  syrinx  less  highly  devel- 
oped than  other  Passeres,  they  are  possessed  of  comparatively  limited 
vocal  powers.  This  family  is  peculiar  to  America.  The  Old- World 
Flycatchers  belong  to  the  family  Muscicapidce  and  are  true  Oscines. 
Some  three  hundred  and  fifty  species  are  known.  They  are  most  abun- 
dant in  the  tropics,  where  their  services  as  insect-catchers  are  in  great- 
est demand.     About  thirty-five  species  reach  the  United  States. 

Flycatchers  are  found  wherever  there  are  trees.  As  a  rule  they  are 
of  sedentary  and  solitary  disposition.  Their  manner  of  feeding  is 
characteristic.  From  a  favorable  perch,  hawklike,  they  await  passing 
insects,  and  with  an  aim  that  rarely  misses  launch  forth  into  the  air ; 
there  is  a  sharp,  suggestive  click  of  the  broad  bill,  and,  completing 
their  aerial  circle,  they  return  to  their  perch  and  are  again  en  garde. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Wing  over  3-00. 

A.  Tail  black  or  blackish,  sometimes  tipped  with  white,  a  concealed  orange- 
red  crown  patch. 
a.  Under  wing-coverts  yellowish,  no  white  tip  on  the  tail. 

445.  Gray  Kingbird. 

h.  Under  wing-coverts  blackish,  tail  tipped  with  white  .  444.  Kingbird. 

£.  Inner  vane  of  tail-feathers  pale  rufous ;   throat  and  breast  grayish ; 

belly  sulphur-yellow 452.  Crested  Flycatcher. 

C.  Tail  fuscous,  not  tipped  with  white  ;  no  crown  patch. 

a.  Entire  bill  black  ;  tail  rarely  more  than  -50  longer  than  wing ;  tarsus 
decidedly  longer  than  bill ;  under  tail-coverts  always  pale,  yellowish 
white 456.  Phcebe. 

b.  Under  mandible  generally  in  whole  or  part  pale  brownish  ;  wing 
always  more  than  -50  longer  than  tail ;  tarsus  about  equal  to  bill ; 
some  of  under  tail-coverts  frequently  with  darker  centers. 

6^.  Wing  over  3*50 ;  sides  and  breast,  except  a  narrow  whitish  line 
through  its  center,  of  the  same  color  as  the  back. 

459.  Olive-sided  Flycatcher. 
l9.  Wing  under  3"50 ;  breast  and  sides  washed  with  olive-gray. 

461.  Wood  Pewee. 


FLYCATCHERS.  243 

II.  Wing  under  3-00. 

A.  Upper  parts  between  olive-brown  and  dark  olive-green,  but  with  an 
evident  brownish  tinge,  or  lower  mandible  brownish. 

a.  Wing  over  2-60;  lower  mandible  flesh-color  or  whitish ;  under  parts 
with  only  a  very  slight  tinge  of  yellow  .  466a.  Traill's  Flycatcher. 

b.  Wing  under  2*60  ;  lower  mandible  rarely  clear  flesh-color ;  generally 
strongly  tinged  with  brownish 467.  Least  Flycatcher. 

JB.  [Jpper  parts  olive-green  without  a  brownish  tinge;   lower  mandible 
straw-color. 

a.  First  primary  about  equal  to  fifth  ;  under  parts  white,  slightly  washed 
with  yellowish  on  the  breast  and  belly  ;  throat  white. 

465.  Acadian  Flycatcher. 

b.  First  primary  shorter  than  fifth ;  under  parts  sulphur-yellow ;  the 
throat  and  breast  more  or  less  washed  with  olive-green. 

463.  Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher. 

The  Fork-tailed  Flycatcher  (44^.  Milvulus  tyrawnus).,  a  South  Amer- 
ican species  rarely  found  north  of  southern  Mexico  and  the  southern  Lesser 
Antilles,  has  been  recorded  from  Mississippi,  Kentucky,  and  New  Jersey. 

The  ScissoR-TAiLED  Flycatcher  (^5.  Milvulus  forficatus)  is  found  in 
the  summer  as  far  north  as  southern  Kansas  and  western  Louisiana.  It  has 
occurred  accidentally  near  Hudson  Bay,  in  Manitoba,  Ontario,  Connecticut, 
ISIew  Jersey,  Virginia,  and  Florida.  It  may  be  known  by  its  long,  deeply 
forked  tail  and  scarlet  sides. 

444.  Tyrannus  tyrannus  {Linn.).  Kingbird,  ^fi?.— Upper  parts 
grayish  slate-color,  darker  on  the  head  and  upper  tail-coverts ;  head  with  a 
concealed  orange-red  crest ;  tail  black,  tipped  with  white ;  under  parts  white, 
washed  with  grayish  on  the  breast.  Ini, — Similar,  but  without  the  crown 
patch,  and  with  the  plumage  more  or  less  tinged  with  ochraceous-bufi".  L., 
8-51 ;  W.,  4-64  ;  T.,  3-55  ;  B.  from  N.,  -55. 

Range. — North  America  north  to  New  Brunswick  and  Manitoba ;  rare 
west  of  the  Kocky  Mountains  ;  winters  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  20  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E., 
Apl.  29  to  Sept.  10.     Cambridge,  abundant  S.  K.,  May  5  to  Sept.  1. 

Nest.^  compact  and  symmetrical,  of  weed-stalks,  grasses,  and  moss  lined 
with  plant-down,  fine  grasses,  and  rootlets,  generally  at  the  extremity  of  a 
branch  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet  up.  LJggs.,  three  to  five,  white,  spotted  with 
umber,  1-00  x  -73. 

The  Kingbird  is  most  frequently  seen  on  a  fence  or  a  dead  twig  on 
a  tree,  where  leaves  do  not  come  in  the  way  of  his  sight.  He  stands 
very  upright,  like  a  Hawk  or  an  Owl,  and,  though  as  quiet  as  if  he 
had  nothing  to  do,  he  is  keenly  awake  to  every  movement  about  him, 
and  every  few  minutes  he  dashes  into  the  air,  seizes  a  passing  insect, 
and  returns  to  the  spot  from  which  he  started.  While  his  mate  is 
sitting  he  usually  establishes  himself  near  the  nesting  tree,  and  spends 
hour  after  hour  in  this  apparently  monotonous  way,  varying  it  only  to 


244  FLYCATCHERS. 

relieve  her  by  watching  the  nest,  and  thus  give  her  an  opportunity  to 
seek  food  for  herself.  I  never  saw  a  Kingbird  either  assist  in  brooding 
or  carry  food  to  his  mate,  but  his  manners  to  her  are  most  affection- 
ate, and  he  is  untiring  in  his  labors  in  the  feeding  of  the  young. 

This  bird  is  accused  of  being  quarrelsome  and  aggressive  to  other 
birds,  and  his  scientific  name  means  Tyrant  Flycatcher,  but  in  my 
study  of  his  ways  I  have  found  him  less  aggressive  than  are  most  birds 
in  the  neighborhood  of  their  nest.  With  the  exception  of  the  Crow, 
against  whom  he  seems  to  have  a  special  grudge,  I  have  never  seen  a 
Kingbird  take  notice  of  any  bird  unless  he  alighted  near  his  nest,  and 
the  meekest  creature  that  wears  feathers  will  try  to  drive  away  stran- 
gers who  approach  that  sacred  spot. 

The  calls  and  cries  of  the  Kingbird  are  generally  loud  and  attract- 
ive, if  not  particularly  musical,  but  while  his  mate  is  sitting — and  pos- 
sibly at  other  times — he  indulges  in  a  soft  and  very  pleasing  song, 
which  I  have  heard  only  in  the  very  early  morning. 

Olive  Thorne  Miller. 

445.  Tyrannus  dominicensis  {Gmel.).  Gray  Kingbird.  Ad. — 
Upper  parts  ashy  gray  ;  a  concealed  orange-red  crown  patch  ;  wings  and  tail 
fuscous ;  under  wing-coverts  pale  sulphur-yellow ;  under  parts  white,  tinged 
with  grayish  on  the  breast.    L.,  9*00 ;  W.,  4-60 ;  T.,  3-50 ;  B.  from  N.,  -80. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  southwai'd  through 
Florida  and  the  Greater  Antilles ;  winters  in  the  Lesser  Antilles,  Mexico,  and 
Central  America ;  accidental  in  Massachusetts. 

Ned.^  of  grass  and  weeds,  lined  with  fine  grass  and  rootlets,  in  bushes. 
Eggs.^  four,  deep  salmon,  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with  umber  and 
lilac,  1-00  X  -75  (Maynard). 

The  Gray  Kingbird  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  parts  of  our 
South  Atlantic  States,  arriving  early  in  May.  It  resembles  the  King- 
bird in  appearance,  but  lacks  the  white  band  at  the  end  of  the  tail, 
and  has  quite  different  notes.  Its  usual  call  is  a  vigorous  pitirri, 
pitirri,  which  in  Cuba  gives  it  its  common  name. 

The  Arkansas  Kingbird  (44'^-  Tyrannus  verticalis)^  a  western  species, 
has  been  taken  in  Iowa,  District  of  Columbia,  Maine,  New  Jersey,  and  New 
York. 

452.  Myiarchus  crinitus  (Linn.).  Crested  Flycatcher;  Great 
Chested  Flycatcher.  Ad. — Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  washed  with  olive- 
green  ;  outer  vane  of  primaries  margined  with  pale  rufous ;  inner  vane  of  all 
but  the  middle  tail-feathers  ^a^e  rufous  ;  throat  and  breast  pearl-gray  ;  belly 
sulphur-yellow.    L.,  9-01 ;  W.,  4-14 ;  T.,  3-75  ;  B.  from  N.,  -62. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Florida  to  New  Brunswick ;  winters  from  southern 
Florida  to  Central  America. 

Washington,  very  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  25  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  R.,  May  7  to  Sept.  12.     Cambridge,  uncommon  S.  R.,  May  15  to  Aug. 


Least  Flycatcher. 
Phcebe, 


B'LYCATCHERS.  245 

Nest,  of  grasses,  twigs,  and  rootlets,  with  generally  a  piece  of  a  cast  snake 
skin,  in  a  hole  in  a  tree,  generally  less  than  twenty  feet  up.  Ji!ggs^  three  to 
six,  creamy  white,  streaked  longitudinally  with  chocolate,  '90  x  -68. 

During  the  spring  migration  each  day  brings  its  own  surprise  and 
pleasure.     The  bare,  silent  woods  where  I  walked  alone  before  are 
now  astir  with  flitting  wings  and  ringing  with  glad  music.     Each 
morning  I  hurry  out,  full 
of  eager  anticipation,  to  be 
thrilled  by  the  greeting  of 
some  old  friend  come  home 
again. 

There  are  red-letter  days, 
however,  even  in  this  calen- 
dar. Hark !  from  the  woods 
a  loud  whistle  pierces  far 
through  the  clearing.  The 
Great-crest  has  come  !  Fig.  75.— Crested  Flycatcher.    (Natural  size.) 

I  break  away  from  the 
confusing  chorus  of  small  voices  and  hurry  off  to  the  woods  for  the 
first  sight  of  the  distinguished  bird.     Full  of  life  and  vigor,  he  flies 
about  in  the  green  tree  tops,  chattering  to  himself  or  calling  loudly 
as  he  goes. 

Not  many  days  pass,  however,  before  he  is  so  taken  up  with  do- 
mestic matters  that  his  voice  is  rarely  heard  outside  the  woods.  Is  he 
engaged  in  his  famous  pursuit — hunting  snake  skins  to  line  his  nest "? 
Absorbed  in  my  daily  round  of  nest  calls,  I  cherish  the  memory  of 
each  passing  glimpse  of  him.  Now  I  see  him  launch  from  a  bass- 
wood  top,  with  wings  and  tail  spread,  to  sail  down  through  the  air, 
his  tail  glowing  red  against  the  light.  Again,  when  looking  for  a  rare 
Warbler,  his  calls  arrest  me.  In  the  dead  top  of  the  highest  tree  in 
sight  I  find  him  with  his  mate.  With  crests  raised,  the  handsome 
birds  chase  each  other  about  the  bare  branches.  Tired  of  that,  they 
explore  the  old  Woodpecker's  holes  in  the  trunk,  and  one  of  them 
walks  out  of  sight  down  a  hollow  limb.  A  Blackbird  lights  in  the 
tree,  and  the  Qreat-crest  above  becomes  so  agitated  that  I  am  con- 
vinced his  mate  has  gone  to  her  nest,  when  lo !  both  Flycatchers  are 
off  and  away  to  another  of  the  great  trees  that  overtop  the  forest. 

Florence  A.  Merriam. 

456.  Sayornis  phcebe  {LatJi.).  Ph(ebe.  (See  Fig.  42.)  Ad. — Up- 
per parts  grayish  brown  with  an  olive-  green  cast ;  crown  distinctly  darker, 
fuscous ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous,  wing-bars  not  conspicuous ;  outer  vane  of 
outer  tail-feather  white  or  yellowish  white,  except  at  the  tip;  under  parts 
"white,  more  or  less  washed  with  yellowish,  and  tinged  with  brownish  gray 


246  FLYCATCHERS. 

on  the  breast  and  sides ;  bill  hlaclc.  Im. — Similar,  but  upper  parts  more  olive, 
under  parts  more  yellow,  and  wing-bars  more  distinct.  L.,  6-99;  W.,  3-38; 
T.,  2-95 ;  B.  from  N.,  -41. 

Bemarhs.—T\\e  Phoebe's  principal  distinguishing  characters  are  its  fus- 
cous crown-cap,  white  outer  vane  of  the  outer  tail-feather,  and  blackish  lower 
mandible. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  South  Carolina  to  New- 
foundland and  Manitoba,  and  winters  from  North  Carolina  to  Cuba  and 
Mexico. 

Washington,  common  S.  E.,  Mch.  5  to  Oct. ;  occasionally  winters.  Sing 
Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Mch.  14  to  Oct.  29.  Cambridge,  common  S.  R.,  Mch.  25 
to  Oct.  10. 

Nest.,  bulky,  largely  moss  and  mud  lined  with  grasses  and  long  hairs,  on 
a  beam  or  rafter,  under  a  bridge  or  bank.  £ggs.,  four  to  six,  white,  rarely 
with  a  few  cinnamon-brown  spots,  "78  x  '59. 

There  is  something  familiar,  trustful,  and  homelike  in  the  Phoebe's 
ways  which  has  won  him  an  undisputed  place  in  our  affections.  With 
an  assurance  born  of  many  welcomes  he  returns  each  year  to  his  perch 
on  the  bridge-rail,  barnyard  gate,  or  piazza,  and  contentedly  sings  his 
humble,  monotonous  pewit  phoehe,  pewit  phoebe — a  hopelessly  tune- 
less performance,  but  who  that  has  heard  it  in  early  spring  when  the 
"pussy  willow"  seems  almost  to  purr  with  soft  blossoms,  will  not 
affirm  that  Phoebe  touches  chords  dumb  to  more  ambitious  songsters ! 

Sometimes  Phoebe  is  inspired  to  greater  effort,  and,  springing  into 
the  air  on  fluttering  wings,  he  utters  more  phcebes  in  a  few  seconds 
than  he  would  sing  ordinarily  in  an  hour. 

Phoebe  is  a  devoted  parent,  and  is  rarely  found  far  from  home. 
His  nest  seems  to  be  the  favorite  abode  of  an  innumerable  swarm  of 
parasites  which  sometimes  cause  the  death  of  his  offspring,  and  when 
rearing  a  second  family  he  changes  his  quarters. 

No  other  Flycatcher  winters  in  numbers  in  our  Southern  States, 
and  Phoebes'  notes  heard  in  January  in  the  heart  of  a  Florida  "  hum- 
mock "  seem  strangely  out  of  place. 

Say's  Ph(ebe  {457.  Sayornis  saya).,  a  western  species,  is  of  accidental 
occurrence  east  of  the  Mississippi.  It  has  been  found  in  northern  Illinois, 
Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and,  more  recently,  on  Cape  Cod,  Massachusetts  (Miller, 
Auk,  vii,  1890,  p.  228). 

459.  Contopus  borealis  (6'wa*^s.).  Olive-sided  Flycatcher.  Ad. 
— Upper  parts  between  fuscous  and  dark  olive ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous ;  throat, 
middle  of  the  belly,  and  generally  a  narrow  line  on  the  center  of  the  breast 
white  or  yellowish  white ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  of  nearly  the  same  color  as 
the  back  ;  under  tail-coverts  marked  with  dusky  ;  a  tuft  of  fluffy.,  yellowish- 
white  feathers  on  either  flank ;  upper  mandible  black,  lower  mandible  yel- 
lowish or  pale  grayish  brown,  the  tip  darker.     Im. — Similar,  but  with  rather 


FLYCATCHERS.  247 

more  olive  above,  more  yellow  below,  and  with  the  wing-coverts  edged  with 
ochraceous-buff.    L.,  7-39  ;  W.,  4-05  ;  T.,  2-70 ;  B.  from  N.,  -54. 

Remarks. — This  species  may  always  be  known  from  our  other  Flycatchers 
by  the  comparatively  little  white  on  the  under  parts,  and  by  the  tuft  of  yel- 
lowish-white feathers  on  the  flanks.  Like  the  Wood  Pewee,  it  has  the  wing 
•50  or  more  longer  than  the  tail. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Massachusetts  and  Minnesota  northward,  and  south- 
ward in  Alleghanies  to  North  Carolina;  winters  in  tropics. 

Washington,  casual  T.  V.,  one  instance,  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  com- 
mon T.  v..  May  20;  Aug.  15  to  Sept.  16.  Cambridge,  T.  V.,  May  20  to  May 
30 ;  Aug. ;  formerly  not  uncommon  S.  K. 

Nest.1  of  twigs  and  moss,  in  coniferous  trees,  about  twenty-five  feet  up,  near 
the  extremity  of  a  limb.  Eggs.,  three  to  five,  vinaceous- white,  spotted,  chiefly 
about  the  larger  end,  with  distinct  and  obscure  rufous  markings,  -85  x  -62. 

I  have  seen  the  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  only  during  the  migrations, 
when  I  look  for  it  on  the  topmost  limb  of  some  high,  dead,  woodland 
tree — a  commanding  position  from  which  it  may  view  its  surround- 
ings. Even  at  a  distance  it  impresses  one  as  being  a  stout,  stocky  bird, 
with  a  head  too  large  for  its  body. 

During  the  summer  they  live  among  pines  or  cedars,  and  are  de- 
scribed by  Colonel  Goss  as  "  bold,  quarrelsome,  and  tyrannical,  zeal- 
ously guarding  any  chosen  locality,  where  they  will  be  found  perched 
upon  the  tops  of  the  tallest  trees,  from  which  they  swoop  down  upon 
the  passing  insects,  and  often  repeat  their  plaintive  pu-pu  or  pu-pip, 
the  males  occasionally  uttering  a  loud,  whistling  call-note." 

461.  Contopus  virens  {Linn.).  Wood  Pewee.  ^4d— Upper  parts 
very  dark,  between  olive  and  fuscous,  with  sometimes  a  tinge  of  dark  olive- 
green  ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous ;  wing-coverts  tipped  with  whitish,  forming 
two  more  or  less  distinct  wing-bars ;  under  parts  white  or  yellowish  white, 
washed  with  olive-gray  on  the  sides  of  the  throat  and  breast,  and,  to  a  less 
extent,  on  the  center  of  breast ;  upper  mandible  black;  lower  mandible  yel- 
lowish or  brownish,  the  tip  frequently  darker.  Tm. — Similar,  but  yellower 
below,  the  wing-coverts  edged  with  cream-buff".  L.,  6-53  ;  W.,  3'34;  T.,  2-62; 
B.  from  N.,  -42. 

Remarks. — The  Wood  Pewee  and  the  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  differ  from 
our  other  Flycatchers  in  having  the  wings  decidedly  longer  than  the  tail, 
and  in  their  short  tarsi.  From  the  species  of  the  genus  Empidonax  they  may 
be  known  by  these  characters  and  their  darker,  more  fuscous  coloration. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Newfoundland; 
winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  28  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E., 
May  10  to  Oct.  2.     Cambridge,  common  S.  E.,  May  18  to  Sept.  10. 

Nest.,  compact  and  symmetrical,  of  fine  grasses,  rootlets,  moss,  etc.,  thickly 
covered  with  lichens,  saddled  on  a  limb,  twenty  to  forty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three 
to  four,  white,  with  a  wreath  of  distinct  and  obscure  umber  markings  about 
the  larger  end,  -68  x  •54. 


248  FLYCATCHERS. 

To  thoroughly  appreciate  how  well  the  Pewee's  disposition  is 
suited  to  his  haunts  and  notes,  we  have  only  to  imagine  him  taking 
the  Phcebe's  place  and  singing  the  Phoebe's  song.  He  was  not  in- 
tended to  adorn  a  bridge  or  barn,  but  in  the  darkened  woods,  high  up 
in  the  trees,  he  finds  a  congenial  home. 

His    pensive,   gentle   ways  are    voiced    by   his    sad,   sweet   call: 
^.  The  notes  are  as  musical  and  restful,  as  much  a  part 

4-  1^    t^  of  Nature's  hymn,  as  the  soft  humming  of  a  brook. 

All  day  long  the  Pewee  sings ;   even  when  the  heat 
of  summer  silences  more  vigorous  birds  and  the 


Pee-a  -  wee  midday  sun   sends   light-shafts  to   the   ferns,  the 

clear,  sympathetic  notes  of  the  retiring  songster  come  from  the  green 
canopy  overhead,  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  peace  and  stillness  of 
the  hour. 

463*  Empidonax  flaviventris  Baird.  Yellow-bellied  Fly- 
catcher. Ad. — Upper  parts  rather  dark  olive-green;  wings  and  tail  fus- 
cous; greater  and  lesser  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white  or  yellowish  white; 
under  parts  sulphur-yellow,  the  belly  pure,  the  throat,  breast,  and  sides  more 
or  less  washed  with  olive-green;  upper  mandible  black,  lower  mandible 
whitish  or  flesh-color ;  second  to  fourth  primaries  of  equal  length,  the  first 
shorter  than  the  fifth.  Im. — Yellow  of  the  under  parts  brighter,  wmg-bars 
more  yellow,  and  sometimes  tinged  with  pale  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  5-63 ;  W. 
2-65  ;  T.,  2-16  ;  B.  from  N.,  -33. 

Bemarlcs. — This  is  the  most  yellow  of  our  small  Flycatchers.  In  any  plum- 
age the  entire  under  parts,  including  the  throat.,  are  sulphur-yellow  or  dusky 
yellowish.     In  the  other  eastern  species  of  this  genus  the  throat  is  white. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Berkshire  County,  Mass., 
to  Labrador  ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  rather  common  T.  V.,  May  1  to  May  31 ;  Aug.  1  to  Oct.  1. 
Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  May  17  to  June  4 ;  Aug.  8  to  Sept.  20.  Cambridge, 
T.  v.,  sometimes  rather  common,  May  24  to  June  5 ;  Aug.  25  to  Sept.  10. 

Aes^,  of  moss,  lined  with  grasses,  on  the  ground,  beneath  the  roots  of  a 
tree  or  imbedded  in  moss.  Eggs.,  four,  creamy  white,  with  numerous  pale  cin- 
namon-brown markings,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  '(jS  x  -54. 

To  see  this  little  Flycatcher  at  his  best,  one  must  seek  the  northern 
evergreen  forest,  where,  far  from  huma,n  habitation,  its  mournful 
notes  blend  with  the  murmur  of  some  icy  brook  tumbling  over  mossy 
stones  or  gushing  beneath  the  still  mossier  decayed  logs  that  threaten 
to  bar  its  way.  Where  all  is  green  and  dark  and  cool,  in  some  glen 
overarched  by  crowding  spruces  and  firs,  birches  and  maples,  there  it  is 
we  find  him,  and  in  the  beds  of  damp  moss  he  skillfully  conceals  his 
nest.  He  sits  erect  on  some  low  twig,  and,  like  other  Flycatchers,  the 
snap  of  his  bill  tells  of  a  sally  after  his  winged  prey.  He  glides 
quietly  away  when  approached,  and  his  occasional  note  of  complaint 


FLYCATCHERS.  249 

may  be  heard  as  long  as  one  remains  in  his  vicinity.  During  the  mi- 
gration this  species  is  silent  and  its  several  distinctive  notes  are  not 
available  for  its  identification,  and  the  same  thing  may  be  said  of  our 
other  small  Flycatchers.  Great  similarity  in  plumage  exists  between 
them  all,  and  without  the  bird  in  hand  identifications  are  at  best 
questionable. 

The  song  is  more  suggestive  of  a  sneeze  on  the  bird's  part  than  of 
any  other  sound  with  which  it  may  be  compared.  It  is  an  abrupt 
pse-ek\  almost  in  one  explosive  syllable,  harsh  like  the  deeper  tones 
of  a  House  Wren,  and  less  musical  than  the  similar  but  longer  songs 
of  Traill's  or  the  Acadian  Flycatcher.  It  is  hardly  surprising  that  the 
birds  sing  very  little  when  we  see  with  what  a  convulsive  jerk  of  the 
head  the  notes  are  produced,  Its  plaintive  call  is  far  more  melodious 
— a  soft,  mournful  whistle  consisting  of  two  notes,  the  second  higher 
pitched  and  prolonged,  with  rising  inflection,  resembling  in  a  measure 
clm-e-e'-p.  J.  D wight,  Jr. 

465.  Empidonax  virescens  ( Vieill.)*  Acadian  Flycatcher. 
yld —Upper  parts  between  olive-green  and  dark  olive-green;  wings  and  tail 
fuscous;  greater  and  lesser  wing-coverts  yellowish  white,  forming  two  con- 
spicuous wing- bars ;  under  parts  white,  washed  with  pale  yellowish  and 
slightly  tinged  with  greenish  on  the  breast ;  the  throat,  and  frequently  tlie 
middle  of  the  belly,  pure  white ;  upper  mandible  black,  lower  mandible  whit- 
ish or  flesh-color ;  second  to  fourth  primaries  of  about  equal  length,  the  first 
and  fifth  shorter  and  also  of  equal  length.  Im. — Upper  parts  greener;  under 
parts  more  tinged  with  yellow ;  wing- bars  and  outer  edges  of  the  tips  of  the 
secondaries  ochraceous-buff'.     L.,  5-7o  ;  W.,  2-85  ;  T.,  2-35 ;  B.  from  N.,  -36. 

Remarks. — This  species  has  the  upper  parts  fully  as  olive-green  as  the 
Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher,  but  the  under  parts  are  never  entirely  yellow,  and 
the  throat  is  always  white. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States  ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  southern  Connect- 
icut and  Manitoba ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  R.,  May  5  to  Sept.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E., 
May  10  to  Aug.  27. 

Nest.1  shallow,  of  plant  stems,  grasses,  and  blossoms,  generally  on  a  fork 
of  a  beech  about  eight  feet  up.  Eggs.,  two  to  three,  creamy  white,  with  a  few 
cinnamon-brown  spots  about  the  larger  end,  -74  x  -56. 

Look  for  the  Acadian  Flycatcher  in  woodlands  watered  by  small 
streams.  It  selects  a  low  rather  than  a  high  perch,  and  is  rarely  seen 
more  than  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  frequently  uttered  calls 
of  this  bird  are  characteristic  and  will  enable  you  to  identify  it  with 
more  ease  in  the  field  than  in  the  study.  The  most  common  is  a  sin- 
gle spee  or  peet,  repeated  at  short  intervals  and  accompanied  by  a 

*  Equivalent  to  Empidonax  acadicus  of  authors  ;  see  Brewster,  Auk,  xii, 
April,  1895. 


250  FLYCATCHERS. 

rapid  twitching  of  the  tail.  A  more  peculiar  note  is  a  louder  pee-e- 
yuk.  The  bird  seems  to  articulate  this  note  with  difficulty,  with  bill 
pointed  upward  and  wings  trembling  like  a  fledgling  begging  for  food. 
Sometimes  you  may  hear  only  the  first  call,  sometimes  only  the 
second,  while  on  other  occasions  the  two  may  be  uttered  alternately. 
A  rarer  note  may  be  heard  when  the  bird  makes  a  short,  fluttering 
flight.     It  resembles  the  soft  murmuring  of  whistling  wings. 

466a.  Empidonax  traiUii  (Aud.).  Traill's  Flycatcher.  Ad.— 
Upper  parts  between  olive-green  and  olive  or  olive-brown ;  wings  and  tail 
fuscous ;  greater  and  lesser  wing-coverts  tipped  with  brownish  ashy ;  under 
parts  v/hitish,  washed  with  dusky  grayish  on  the  breast  and  sides  and  pale 
yellowish  on  the  belly ;  throat  pure  white ;  upper  mandible  black,  lower 
mandible  whitish  or  flesh-color.  Im. — Similar,  but  wing-bars  ochraceous- 
butf  and  under  parts  slightly  yellower.  L.,  6-09  ;  W.,  2-87  ;  T.,  2-33  ;  B.  from 
N.,  -35. 

Eemarks. — -This  is  the  hroionest  of  our  small  Flycatchers.  The  upper 
parts  liave  an  evident  tinge  of  brown  or  olive-brown,  a  color  entirely  want- 
ing in  the  Acadian  and  Yellow-bellied  Flycatchers.  In  this  respect  it  resem- 
bles the  much  smaller  Least  Flycatcher. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  from  Arizona,  Missouri,  southern  Illinois, 
northern  New  England,  and  casually  Connecticut,  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Alaska ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  irregularly  common  T.  V.,  May  10  to  May  28;  Aug.  15  to 
Sept.  25.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  May  19  to  May  31 ;  Aug.  29.  Cambridge, 
rare  T.  V.,  May  25  to  May  31 ;  Aug. 

Nest.^  of  coarse  grasses,  plant  down,  and  plant  libers,  lined  with  fine  grasses, 
in  the  crotch  of  a.  small  bush  or  sapling  near  the  ground.  Eggs,  three  to 
four,  creamy  white,  with  cinnamon-brown  markings  about  the  larger  end, 
•73  X  -54. 

While  the  Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher  is  distinctively  a  bird  c  t  the 
deep  woods,  this  more  abundant  Flycatcher  in  its  summer  home  re- 
sorts to  the  alder  patches  of  the  open  country  and  is  seldom  found  far 
from  their  protecting  shade.  It  flits  restlessly  about,  keeping  well  out 
of  sight  below  the  waving  tops  of  the  bushes,  and  its  presence  is  be- 
trayed only  by  a  single  pP.'p  of  alarm  that  in  no  way  resembles  the 
mournful  wail  of  the  species  just  mentioned.  It,  too,  is  silent  when 
migrating,  and  on  its  breeding  grounds  sings  but  little,  so  that  if  it 
did  not  take  pains  to  call  out  to  every  one  who  passes  it  would  not  be 
noticed  among  the  rustling  alders.  The  song  most  resembles  that  of 
the  Acadian  Flycatcher,  an  ee-zee  -e-up,  with  stress  on  the  rasping 
zee,  the  latter  part  more  musical.  The  performer  jerks  out  the  notes 
rapidly,  doubling  himself  up  and  fairly  vibrating  with  the  explosive 
effort.  J.  DwiGiiT,  Jr. 

Note.— In  The  Aiik  for  April,  1895,  Mr.  William  Brewster  shows  that  the  spe- 
cific name  pusillus  (Swains.),  hitherto  applied  to  the  western  form  of  this  Fly- 


FLYCATCHERS.  251 

catcher,  is  not  identifiable.  Muscicapa  traillii  was  described  by  Audubon  from 
Arkansas,  and  Mr.  Brewster  considers  specimens  from  Arkansas  and  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  south  of  latitude  42°  as  inseparable  from  those  inhabiting  the 
region  westward  to  the  Pacific,  to  which  he  would  therefore  apply  the  name 
Empidonax  traillii.  In  brief,  the  form  previously  known  as  E.  pusillus  becomes 
E.  traillii,  and  the  Mississippi  Valley  birds  south  of  latitude  42°,  which  formerly 
were  considered  the  same  as  those  from  the  Atlantic  States,  are  placed  with  the 
western  rather  than  the  eastern  bird.  This  course  leaves  the  eastern  bird  with- 
out a  name,  and  Mr.  Brewster  proposes  to  call  it  Emjjidonax  traillii  alnorum ; 
Alder  Flycatcher. 

Western  specimens  average  somewhat  browner  than  eastern  ones,  and  have 
slightly  larger  bills,  but,  in  my  opinion,  the  differences  are  too  slight  to  warrant 
their  continued  separation,  and  I  would  apply  the  name  traillii  to  both. 

467.  Empidonax  minimus  Baird.  Least  Flycatcher  ;  Chebec. 
Ad. — Upper  parts  between  olive-green  and  olive  or  olive-brown  ;  wings  and 
tail  fuscous  ;  greater  and  lesser  wing-coverts  tinged  with  ashy  white  ;  under 
parts  whitish,  washed  with  dusky  grayish  on  the  breast  and  sides  and  gen- 
erally with  a  slight  tinge  of  yellowish  on  the  belly  ;  lower  mandible  generally 
horiL-color.  Im. — Under  parts  slightly  more  yellow.  L.,  5-41 ;  W.,  2-51  ;  T., 
2-21 ;  B.  from  N.,  -31. 

Remarks. — This  is  the  smallest  of  our  Flycatchers.  Its  size,  the  compara- 
tive absence  of  yellow  on  the  under  parts,  and  the  generally  horn-colored  or 
brown  lower  mandible  are  its  chief  distinguishing  characters. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States;  breeds  from  Pennsylvania  to  Quebec,  and 
southward  in  Alleghanies  to  North  Carolina ;  winters  in  tropics. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  25  to  May  25  ;  Aug.  28  to  Sept.  25.  Sing 
Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  25  to  Aug,  26.  Cambridge,  abundant 
S.  R.,  May  1  to  Aug.  25. 

Nest.^  of  plant  down,  plant  fibers,  rootlets,  fine  strips  of  bark,  and  long 
hairs,  generall}^  in  a  crotch  five  to  fifteen  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three  to  five,  white, 
unmarked,  -63  x  51. 

When  music  was  distributed,  I  believe  most  of  our  Flycatchers  had 
back  seats.  It  was  an  unfortunate  circumstance,  for  their  sedentary 
habits  and  apparently  thoughtful,  serious,  even  poetic  dispositions 
make  one  believe  that  with  proper  training  they  might  have  taken 
high  rank  as  musicians. 

Instead  of  the  simple  melody  we  might  expect  to  hear  from  the 
modest  Least  Flycatcher,  he  salutes  us  with  a  singularly  inappropriate, 
business-like  chebec,  chebec,  varying  the  performance  by  murderous 
sallies  after  passing  insects.  In  crescendo  passages  he  literally  rises  to 
the  occasion,  and  on  trembling  wings  sings  an  absurd  "  chebec,  tooral- 
ooral,  chebec,  tooral-ooral,"  with  an  earnestness  deserving  better  results. 

The  Chebec,  however,  possesses  originality ;  we  can  not  confuse  his 
voice  with  that  of  any  other  bird,  and  young  ornithologists  should 
give  him  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  clear  enunciation. 

He  prefers  fruit  and  shade  trees  to  those  of  forest  growth,  and  is 
therefore  an  inhabitant  of  our  lawns  and  orchards. 


252  LARKS. 


Family  Alaudid^.    Larks. 

The  Horned  Larks  are  the  only  i-epresentatives  of  this  family  found 
in  America.  About  one  hundred  species,  of  which  the  Skylark  is  the 
best  known,  are  found  in  the  Old- World. 

They  are  terrestrial  birds,  generally  colored  in  harmony  with  their 
haunts,  and,  except  during  the  nesting  season,  are  usually  found  in 
flocks. 

474.  Otocoris  alpestris*  {Linn.).  Horned  Lark;  Shore  Lark, 
^^,  ^  .—Forehead,  line  over  the  eye,  ear  region,  and  throat  sulphur-yellow ; 
fore  part  of  the  crown,  a  tuft  of  elongated  feathers  on  either  side  of  the  head, 
a  mark  from  the  bill  below  the  eye  and  then  downward  to  the  side  of  the 
throat,  and  a  patch  on  the  breast  black  ;  back  of  the  head  and  neck  and  rump 
vinaceous,  more  or  less  washed  with  grayish  brown  ;  back  grayish  brown,  edged 
with  brownish  ash  and  tinged  with  vinaceous;  wing-coverts  deep  vinaceous; 
tail  black,  the  outer  vanes  of  the  outer  feathers  margined  with  white,  the  middle 
feathers  broadly  margined  with  brownish  and  vinaceous;  lower  breast  and  belly 
white,  the  former  more  or  less  soiled  with  dusky  spots  ;  sides  vinaceous.  Ad.  9  . 
—Similar,  but  the  markings,  especially  those  of  the  head,  less  sharply  defined, 
neck  less  vinaceous,  etc.  Fall  and  winter  specimens. — Similar,  but  with  the 
black  markings  veiled  by  yellowish  or  whitish  tips  to  the  feathers.  L.,  7"75  ; 
*'  W.,  4-27  ;  T.,  2-84  ;  B.  from  N.,  -40  "  (Dwight). 

Range. — Breeds  in  "  northern  Europe,  Greenland,  Newfoundland,  Labra- 
dor, and  Hudson  Bay  region  ;  southward  in  winter  into  eastern  United  States 
to  about  lat.  35°  "  (Dwight). 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Nov.  to  Mch.  or  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  casual 
W,  V.     Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  Oct.  25  to  Nov.  25 ;  Mch.  25  to  Apl.  5. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  pale  bluish  or  greenish 
white,  minutely  and  evenly  speckled  with  pale  grayish  brown,  -84  x  -60. 

These  hardy  birds  visit  us  in  flocks  in  the  winter.  They  frequent 
the  vicinity  of  the  seacoast  or  large,  flat,  open  tracts  in  the  interior, 
and  are  rarely  found  in  well-wooded  regions.  They  are  terrestrial, 
and  may  be  seen  running  over  the  snow  or  barren  ground  in  scattered 
companies.  They  take  wing  with  a  sharp,  whistled  note,  and  seek 
fresh  fields  or,  hesitating,  finally  swing  about  and  return  to  near  the 
spot  from  which  they  were  flushed.  They  are  sometimes  found  asso- 
ciated with  Snowflakes,  and  flocks  may  contain  numbers  of  our  resi- 
dent Shore  Lark,  0.  a.  praticola. 

474b.  O.  a.  pra<ticola;  Hensh.  Prairie  Horned  Lark. — Similar 
to  the  preceding  species,  but  smaller  and  somewhat  paler,  with  the  forehead 
and  line  over  the  eye  white  instead  of  yellow,  the  throat  but  slightly  tinged 

*  See  an  important  paper  on  the  relationships  and  distribution  of  the  Ameri- 
can representatives  of  this  genus,  by  Dr.  J.  Dwight,  Jr.,  in  The  Auk,  vii,  1890, 
pp.  138-158. 


CROWS,  JAYS,  ETC.  253 

with  yellow,  and  sometimes  entirely  white.  L.,  7-25  ;  "  W,,  4-08  ;  T.,  2-86  ;  B. 
from  N., -37"  (D wight). 

Bange.— Breeds  in  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  eastward  through  IS'ew 
York  to  western  Massachusetts  and  Long  Island. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Oct.  25  to  Apl. 

This  is  one  of  the  birds  that  has  changed  its  range  since  the  settle- 
ment of  America.     It  is  properly  a  species  of  the  prairies  and  open 
barrens,  but  since  the  once-continuous  forest  of  the  older  States  and 
provinces  has  been   broken  up,  it 
has  made  its  appearance  in  the  east, 
wherever  the  country  is  suited  to 
its  requirements. 

It  is  strictly  a  ground  bird,  never 
perching  on  trees,  though  it  com- 
monly alights  on  the  top  of  a  fence 
post  or  other  low,  level  surface. 
When  encountered  on  a  pathway  it 
often  runs  before  the  pedestrian, 
after  the  manner  of  the  Vesper 
Sparrow,  from  which  bird,  however,    Fi«.  76.-Prair^e  Horn^ed  Lark.    (Nat- 

it    may   be    distinguished    by   the 

black  feathers  in  its  tail,  by  its  chocolate  back,  and  by  the  black  marks 
on  its  face ;  also  by  the  fact  that  it  runs,  but  does  not  hop,  and  when 
it  flies  it  usually  utters  a  whistle,  whereas  the  Vesper  Sparrow  invari- 
ably flies  off  in  silence. 

Its  chief  song  is  poured  forth  in  the  air  as  it  soars  aloft,  like  a  Sky- 
lark ;  but  it  often  utters  this  same  song  while  perched  on  some  clod  or 
stone,  especially  just  before  dawn  and  after  sunset,  as  well  as  in  the 
springtime,  while  the  snow  is  yet  on  the  ground. — Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

European  Skylarks  (^7-5.  Alauda  arven.sis)  have  been  introduced  several 
times  in  this  country.  In  1887  a  small  colony  had  become  established  near 
Flatbush,  Long  Island,  where  a  nest  with  young  was  found.  (See  Dutcher, 
Auk,  V,  1888,  p.  180.)  After  a  supposed  extinction  a  singing  bird  and  nest 
were  observed  in  July,  1895.     (See  Proctor,  Auk,  xii,  Oct.,  1895.) 

Family  Corvid^.     Crows,  Jays,  etc. 

The  Corvidce  are  represented  in  all  parts  of  the  world  except  New 
Zealand.  They  number  about  two  hundred  species,  of  which  twenty- 
five  are  found  in  North  America. 

Our  Crows  and  Jays  inhabit  wooded  regions,  and,  although  migra- 
tory to  a  limited  extent,  are  resident  throughout  the  year,  except  at 
the  northern  limits  of  their  range.  They  are  omnivorous  feeders, 
taking  fruits,  seeds,  insects,  eggs,  nestlings,  etc. 


254  CROWS,  JAYS,  ETC. 

Crows  and  Jays  exhibit  marked  traits  of  character  and  are  possessed 
of  unusual  intelligence.  Some  systematists  place  them  at  the  top  of 
the  Avian  tree,  and,  if  their  mental  development  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration, they  have  undoubted  claims  to  this  high  rank. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Plumage  black. 

a.  Wing  about  15-00;  bill  over  2-50 486a.  Eaven. 

b.  Wing  about  13-00  ;  bill  about  2-00. 

488.  Am.  Crow.    488a.  Florida  Crow. 

c.  Wing  about  11-00 ;  bill  about  1-50 490.  Fish  Crow. 

B.  Plumage  bluish  or  grayish. 

a.  Back  blue ;  tail  tipped  with  white  ;  a  black  breast-patch. 

477.  Blue  Jay.    477a.  Florida  Blue  Jay. 

b.  Back  bluish  gray ;  tail  not  tipped  with  white ;  throat  and  breast  indis- 
tinctly streaked  with  whitish 479.  Florida  Jay. 

c.  Back  gray  ;  back  of  head  and  nape  blackish  ;  -forehead  whitish. 

484.  Canada  Jay.    484c.  Labrador  Jay. 

477.  Cyanocitta  cristata  (Linn.).  Blue  Jay.  (See  Fig.  44,  a.) 
Ad. — Upper  parts  grayish  blue;  under  parts  dusky  whitish,  whiter  on  the 
throat  and  belly ;  forehead,  and  a  band  passing  across  the  back  of  the  head 
down  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  across  the  breast,  black ;  head  crested ;  ex- 
posed surface  of  wings  blue,  the  greater  wing-coverts  and  secondaries  barred 
with  black  and  tipped  with  white ;  tail  blue,  all  but  the  outer  feathers  barred 
with  black,  and  all  but  the  middle  pair  broadly  tipped  with  white,  this  white 
tip  rarely  less  than  1-00  in  width  on  the  outer  feather.  L.,  11*74;  W.,  5-14, 
T.,  5-19;  B.,  1-04. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Newfoundland  ; 
generally  resident  throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  rather  rare  P.  K.,  common  T.  V.,  A  pi.  28  to  May  15 ;  Sept.  15 
to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  P.  E.  Cambridge,  common  P.  E., 
abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  and  May  ;  Sept.  and  Oct. 

Nest.,  of  rootlets,  compactly  interwoven,  generally  in  a  tree  crotch  fifteen 
to  twenty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  pale  olive-green  or  brownish  ashy,  rather 
thickly  marked  with  distinct  or  obscure  spots  of  varying  shades  of  cinnamon- 
brown,  1-10  X  -85. 

The  Blue  Jay,  I  fear,  is  a  reprobate,  but,  notwithstanding  his  fond- 
ness for  eggs  and  nestlings,  and  his  evident  joy  in  worrying  other 
birds,  there  is  a  dashing,  reckless  air  about  him  which  makes  us  par- 
don his  faults  and  like  him  in  spite  of  ourselves. 

Like  many  men,  he  needs  the  inspiration  of  congenial  company  to 
bring  out  the  social  side  of  his  disposition.  Household  duties  may 
perhaps  absorb  him,  but  certain  it  is  that  when  at  home  he  is  very  dif- 
ferent from  the  noisy  fellow  who,  with  equally  noisy  comrades,  roams 
the  woods  in  the  fall. 

How  his  jay,  jay  rings  out  on  the  frosty  morning  air !     It  is  a  sig- 


CROWS,  JAYS,  ETC.  255 

nal  to  his  companions,  breakfasting  in  a  near-by  oak  or  chestnut, 
"  Here,  here,  here's  some  fun ! "  and  the  poor,  blinking  Owl  he  has 
discovered  looks  helplessly  at  the  blue-coated  mob,  whose  uproar  alone 
is  terrifying.  Suddenly  there  is  absolute  silence;  every  Jay  has  dis- 
appeared. Some  one  of  them  has  seen  you,  and  not  until  your  silence 
reassures  the  band  will  they  return  to  the  sport  of  teasing  their  victim. 
The  Blue  Jay  is  both  a  mimic  and  a  ventriloquist.  Besides  an  in- 
exhaustible stock  of  whistles  and  calls  of  his  own,  he  imitates  the  notes 
of  other  species,  notably  those  of  the  Red-shouldered,  Red- tail,  and 
Sparrow  Hawks. 

477a.  C.  C.  florincolai  Coues.  Florida  Blue  Jay. — Similar  to  the 
preceding  species,  but  smaller,  the  upper  parts  somewhat  grayer,  the  white 
tips  to  the  feathers  narrower,  those  on  the  outer  pair  of  tail-feathers  generally 
less  than  1-00  in  width.     L.,  10-75 ;  W.,  5-15  ;  T.,  4-80  ;  B.,  -96. 

Bange. — Florida  and  Gulf  coast  region  to  Texas. 

Blue  Jays  in  Florida  are  much  more  familiar  than  our  Jays  at  the 
north.  They  are  common  inhabitants  of  towns  with  live-oaks,  and 
hop  about  the  fences  and  gardens  with  all  the  domesticity  of  the 
Robins  on  our  lawns.  It  has  always  seemed  to  me  that  the  Florida 
birds  were  possessed  of  greater  vocabularies  than  their  northern 
brethren. 

The  Magpie  (^75.  Plea  pica  Jiudsonicd)  inhabits  western  North  America; 
stragglers  have  been  recorded  from  as  far  east  as  Montreal  and  Illinois. 

479.  Aphelocoma  floridana  {Bartr.).  Florida  Jay.  Ad.—lo^ 
and  sides  of  the  head  and  neck,  wings  and  tail,  grayish  blue ;  back  pale 
brownish  gray  ;  under  parts  dirty  white,  obscurely  streaked  on  the  throat  and 
breast;  sides  of  the  breast  and  faint  breast-band  grayish  blue.  L.,  11-50; 
W.,  4-45  ;  T.,  5-40 ;  B.,  -98. 

Range. — Florida;  of  local  distribution,  chiefly  along  the  coasts,  between 
lat.  27°  and  30°. 

Nest.,  of  sticks  and  roots  lined  with  weeds  and  rootlets,  in  bushes.  Eggs., 
four,  olive-green  spotted  and  blotched  with  black,  1-17  x  -75  (Maynard). 

"  The  Florida  Jays  are  noisy  birds  at  all  times,  and  the  first  inti- 
mation which  one  receives  of  their  presence  is  a  harsh  scream  which  is 
given  as  a  note  of  alarm.  As  they  usually  move  in  flocks,  this  cry  is 
taken  up  by  others,  and  soon  the  scrub  for  many  rods  around  will  be 
resounding  with  these  peculiar  sounds.  When  undisturbed  they  feed 
on  the  ground  or  in  bushes,  but,  upon  the  approach  of  an  intruder, 
they  will  mount  the  highest  point  available,  where  they  remain  until 
driven  away.  They  are  not  usually  shy,  and  will  allow  one  to  ap- 
proach them  quite  closely,  but  when  one  or  two  are  shot  the  survivors 
usually  disappear.  .  .  .  They  will  glide  through  the  bushes  with  re- 
markable rapidity,  never  once  showing  themselves,  or,  if  they  have  an 


256  CROWS,  JAYS,  ETC. 

open  space  to  cross,  dart  over  it,  not  in  flocks,  but  singly,  and,  plung- 
ing into  the  next  thicket,  they  will  at  once  be  lost  to  view  "  (Maynard). 

484.  Perisoreus  canadensis  (Linn.).  Canada  Jay;  Whisky 
Jack  ;  Moose-bird.  Ad. — Fore  part  of  the  head  white,  back  of  the  head  and 
nape  sooty  black,  back  gray  ;  wings  and  tail  gray,  most  of  the  feathers  nar- 
rowly tipped  with  white ;  throat  and  sides  of  the  neck  white,  rest  of  the  un- 
der parts  ashy  gray.    L.,  12-00 ;  W.,  5-85  ;  T.,  5-80 ;  B.,  82. 

Mange. — Nova  Scotia,  northern  New  England,  and  northern  New  York; 
west  to  northern  Minnesota ;  north,  in  the  interior,  to  the  arctic  regions. 

Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  record,  Oct. 

Nest.1  of  coarse  twigs  and  strips  of  bark,  in  coniferous  trees.  Eggs.^  four  to 
five,  white,  distinctly  and  obscurely  spotted  with  light  olive-brown,  1-12  x  -81. 

While  studying  the  habits  of  birds  in  the  great  coniferous  forest  of 
the  north,  I  soon  found  that  I  was  very  safe  in  attributing  any  new 
strange  shrieks  or  wails,  whose  origin  I  was  otherwise  unable  to  trace, 
to  the  Canada  Jay.  Many  of  the  notes  resemble  those  of  the  Blue 
Jay,  but  it  has  a  number  that  are  distinctly  its  own.  Some  of  these 
are  musical,  but  most  of  them  are  harsh  and  discordant. 

In  its  habits  it  is  much  like  its  blue  cousin,  but  it  is  less  shy,  and 
becomes  almost  tame  if  allowed  to  come  unmolested  about  the  camp 
for  a  few  days  in  succession.  In  form  it  is  like  a  magnified  Chickadee, 
clad  in  singularly  furlike,  thick,  puffy  gray  feathers ;  on  its  forehead 
is  a  white  spot,  the  size  of  a  dime,  and  its  wings  and  tail  are  of  a 
much  darker  gray  than  the  other  parts.  This  description,  remem- 
bered in  conjunction  with  the  habits,  will  at  once  identify  the  species. 

It  nests  early  in  March — that  is,  while  deep  snow  still  covers  the 
ground  and  hard  frost  reigns  supreme ;  and  no  satisfactory  explana- 
tion of  this  strange  habit  has  yet  been  brought  forward.  No  doubt 
one  or  other  of  the  parents  always  remains  with  the  eggs,  but  still  it 
is  difficult  to  see  how  they  can  keep  them  from  freezing  when  the  sur- 
rounding air  is  chilled  to  30°  below  zero. 

It  is  a  non-migratory  species,  and  it  is  said  that  in  autumn  it  pro- 
vides against  the  annual  famine  of  winter  by  laying  up  a  store  of  nuts 
and  other  food.  Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

484c.  P.  c.  nigricapillus  Ridgiv.  Labrador  Jay. — Similar  to 
the  preceding,  but  darker,  the  black  of  the  head  and  neck  extending  forward 
and  surrounding  the  eye. 

Range. — Coast  region  of  Labrador. 

486a.  Corvus  corax  principalis  Ridgw.  Northern  Eaven; 
American  Raven.  Ad. — Entire  plumage  black  with  steel-blue  reflections ; 
feathers  on  the  throat  narrow,  lengthened,  and  pointed.  "  L.,  about  22-00- 
26-50;  W.,  16-99;  T.,  9-86;  B.,  3-03;  depth  of  B.  at  N.,  1-04"  (Ridgw.). 

BemarJcs. — The  Raven  differs  from  the  Crow  in  its  much  greater  size  and 


CROWS,  JAYS,  ETC.  257 

in  having  long,  pointed,  instead  of  the  usual  short,  rounded  feathers  on  the 
throat. 

Range. — Northern  North  America  from  Greenland  to  Alaska,  south  on 
the  Pacilic  coast  to  British  Columbia,  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  North 
Carolina ;  of  local  distribution  in  the  eastern  United  States. 

iVes^,  compact  and  symmetrical,  of  sticks  lined  with  grasses,  wool,  etc.,  add- 
ed from  year  to  year,  in  trees  or  on  clifl's.  "  Eggs^  two  to  seven,  pale  bluish 
green,  pale  olive,  or  olive  spotted  or  dashed  (or  both)  with  olive-brown  (some- 
times nearly  uniform  olive  from  density  of  markings),  2-02  x  1-38"  (Kidgw.). 

"  The  usual  note  of  the  Raven  is  a  hoarse,  rolling  c7'-7'-r-cruck,  but 
he  has  other  cries.  .  .  . 

"  Despite  their  difference  in  size  and  habits,  I  must  confess  that  I 
often  had  difficulty  in  distinguishing  Ravens  from  Crows.  Every  one 
must  have  noticed  how  the  apparent  size  of  a  Crow  will  vary  under 
different  conditions  of  the  atmosphere ;  it  is  the  same  with  the  Raven. 
At  times  he  looks  as  big  as  an  Eagle ;  at  others  scarcely  larger  than  a 
Fish  Crow.  But  when  actually  in  company  with  Crows  he  can  not 
be  possibly  mistaken,  for  he  then  appears,  as  he  is,  nearly  double  the 
size  of  any  of  them.  His  flight  did  not  seem  to  me  as  characteristic 
as  it  has  been  described.  True,  he  sails  more  than  does  the  Crow,  and 
there  is  something  peculiar  in  his  wing  strokes,  but  the  difference  is 
not  always  appreciable  unless  there  is  an  opportunity  for  direct  com- 
parison "  (Brewster,  Birds  Observed  on  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  Proc. 
Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  xxii,  1883,  p.  378). 

488.  Corvus  americanns  Aud.  American  Ckow.  (See  Fig.  44,  b.)' 
Ad. — Entire  plumage  black,  with  steel-blue  or  deep  purplish  reflections ;  the 
under  parts  duller  than  the  upper  parts ;  feathers  on  the  neck  normal,  short, 
and  rounded.    L.,  19-30 ;  W.,  12-18 ;  T.,  7-52;  B.,  2-00. 

Range. — "  North  America  from  the  fur  countries  to  Mexico  " ;  winters  from 
the  northern  United  States  southward. 

Washington,  abundant  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  B.  Cambridge, 
abundant  P.  E. 

Nest.^  bulky,  of  sticks  lined  with  strips  of  grapevine  bark,  grasses,  moss, 
etc.,  in  trees,  generally  about  thirty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  generally  blu- 
ish green,  thickly  marked  with  shades  of  brown,  but  sometimes  light  blue  or 
even  white  with  almost  no  markings,  1*65  x  1*19. 

Throughout  his  wide  range  the  size,  color,  voice,  habits,  and  abun- 
dance of  the  Crow  combine  to  make  him  the  most  conspicuous  and 
consequently  the  best  known  of  our  birds.  But  in  spite  of  his  great 
circle  of  acquaintances  he  has  few  friends.  An  unfortunate  fondness 
for  corn  has  placed  him  under  the  ban  of  the  agriculturist ;  there  is  a 
price  on  his  head ;  every  man's  hand  is  against  him. 

Apparently  he  does  not  mind  this  in  the  least ;  in  fact,  he  seems 
to  rejoice  in  being  an  outlaw.  As  for  fear,  I  doubt  if  he  knows  what 
18 


258  CROWS,  JAYS,  ETC. 

it  means ;  he  has  far  too  much  confidence  in  his  undoubted  ability  to 
escape  his  human  persecutors.  He  laughs  at  their  attempts  to  entrap 
him ;  his  insolent  assurance  is  admirable.  For  several  centuries  man 
has  been  his  sworn  enemy,  nevertheless  he  appears  to  have  held  his 
own,  accepting  and  adjusting  himself  to  every  new  condition. 

Afraid  of  no  one,  he  migrates  boldly  by  day,  and  in  March  and 
October  we  may  see  him  with  his  comrades  high  in  the  air,  returning 
to  or  leaving  their  summer  homes.  In  winter  the  Crows  are  exceed- 
ingly abundant  along  our  seacoasts,  where  they  congregate  to  feed  on 
mollusks,  fish,  and  other  sea  food. 

At  this  season  they  roost  in  colonies.  It  has  been  estimated  that 
some  roosts  contain  upward  of  three  hundred  thousand  birds.*  Early 
in  the  morning,  with  regularly  executed  manoeuvres,  they  start  on  the 
day's  foraging,  flying  low,  on  the  lookout  for  food.  Late  in  the  after- 
noon they  return  at  a  much  greater  height — "  as  the  Crow  flies  " — and, 
alighting  at  some  point  near  the  roost,  wait  the  coming  of  the  last 
stragglers.  Then,  at  a  given  signal,  they  all  rise  and  retire  for  the 
night. 

No  one  who  has  listened  to  Crows  will  doubt  that  they  have  a  lan- 
guage.    But  who  can  translate  it  ? 

488a.  C.  a.  floridanus  Baird.  Florida  Crow. — Similar  to  the  pre- 
ceding, but  wings  and  tail  somewhat  shorter,  and  bill  and  feet  slightly  larger. 
L.,  20-00;  W.,  11-50-12-30;  T.,  7-00-7-70;  B.,  2-00-2-20;  depth  of  B.  at  base, 
•75--85 ;  Tar.,  2-40-2-50  (Eidgw.). 

Range. — Florida;  confined  largely  to  the  pine-woods. 

490*  CorvTiS  ossifragns  Wils.  Fish  Crow.  Ad. — Entire  plumage 
black,  with  steel-blue  or  deep  purplish  reflections,  generally  more  greenish  on 
the  under  parts.    L.,  16-00 ;  W.,  11-00 ;  T.,  6-40  ;  B.,  1-50. 

BemarJcs. — The  Fish  Crow  may  be  distinguished  from  the  common  Orow 
(1)  by  its  much  smaller  size.  (2)  By  the  uniform  and  somewhat  richer  color 
of  the  back.  In  americanus  the  feathers  of  the  back  have  dull  tips ;  when 
the  freshly-plum  aged  bird  is  held  between  the  observer  and  the  light  these 
tips  give  the  back  a  ringed  or  slightly  scaled  appearance.  In  ossifragus  these 
tips  are  wanting,  and  the  back  is  uniformly  colored.  (3)  By  the  brighter  color 
of  the  under  parts.  In  americanus  the  under  parts  are  generally  much  duller 
than  the  upper  parts;  in  ossifragus  they  are  nearly  as  bright. 

Range. — Gulf  and  Atlantic  coast,  as  far  north  as  southern  Connecticut; 
resident  except  at  the  extreme  northern  part  of  its  range. 

Washington,  rather  common  P.  R.     Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  record,  Mch. 

Nest.^  of  sticks,  lined  with  strips  of  grapevine  bark,  moss,  grasses,  etc., 
generally  in  pines  or  cedars,  twenty  to  fifty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  simi- 
lar in  color  to  those  of  C.  americanus.,  1-52  x  1-06. 

*  Rhoads,  Crow  Roosts  and  Roosting  Crows,  Am.  Nat..  1886,  pp.  691-700,  777-787. 


STARLINGS.  259 

The  Fish  Crow  can  be  distinguished  from  the  common  Crow  in 
life  only  by  its  call.  Its  voice  is  cracked  and  reedy,  and  its  notes  re- 
semble those  of  a  young  common  Crow.  Instead  of  the  loud,  clear, 
open  caw  of  adults  of  that  species,  it  utters  a  hoarser  ca7\  as  if  it 
talked  through  its  nose !  The  difference  is  perhaps  not  appreciable 
upon  paper,  but  one  who  is  familiar  with  their  calls  need  never  con- 
fuse these  two  birds  in  the  field. 

The  Fish  Crow,  while  not  confined  to  the  coast  or  even  the  vicinity 
of  water,  is  not  found  far  inland. 

Family  Sturnid^.    Starlings. 

An  Old-World  family  containing  some  two  hundred  species.  It  is 
represented  in  America  only  by  the  Starling,  which  has  been  recently 
introduced. 

493*  Sturnus  vulgaris  Zm/i-.  Starling.  (See  Fig.  45.)  Ad., summer 
plumage. — Metallic  purplish  or  greenish  ;  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  all  tipped 
with  cream-bufi'  spots,  feathers  of  the  under  parts  marked  only  on  the  sides  ; 
lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts,  wings,  and  tail  dark  brownish  gray,  edged 
with  cream-buff;  bill  yellow.  Ad..,  winter  plumage. — Similar,  but  the  upper 
parts  heavily  spotted  with  brownish  cream-buff;  the  entire  under  parts  heavily 
spotted  with  white  ;  bill  blackish  brown.    L.,  8-50  ;  W.,  5-10  ;  T.,  2-50. 

Range. — Europe  and  northern  Asia ;  accidental  in  Greenland  ;  introduced 
in  New  York  city. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  twigs,  etc.,  in  a  crevice  in  a  building  or  hollow  tree. 
Eggs.,  four  to  six,  pale  bluish,  1-20  x  -86. 

This  Old- World  species  has  been  introduced  in  eastern  North  Amer- 
ica on  several  occasions,  but  only  the  last  importation  appears  to  have 
been  successful.  The  birds  included  in  this  lot,  about  sixty  in  number, 
were  released  in  Central  Park,  New  York  city,  in  1890,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Mr.  Eugene  Schieflelin.  They  seem  to  have  left  the  park  and 
have  established  themselves  in  various  favorable  places  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  city.  They  have  bred  for  three  successive  years  in  the 
roof  of  the  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  at  other  points  in  the 
vicinity.  In  the  suburbs  about  the  northern  end  of  the  city  they  are 
frequently  observed  in  flocks  containing  as  many  as  fifty  individuals. 
These  birds  are  resident  throughout  the  year,  and,  as  they  have  already 
endured  our  most  severe  winters,  we  may  doubtless  regard  the  species 
as  thoroughly  naturalized.  Starlings  are  walkers,  not  hoppers,  and 
this  fact,  in  connection  with  the  spotted  plumage  and  yellow  bill 
of  the  adults,  makes  their  identification  an  easy  matter. 


260  BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,  ETC. 

Family  Icterid^.    Blackbirds,  Orioles,  etc. 

This  distinctively  American  family  is  most  abundantly  represented 
in  the  tropics,  where  the  majority  of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  known 
species  are  found.  With  the  exception  of  the  Orioles,  they  are  gre- 
garious after  the  nesting  season,  while  some  of  the  species  nest  in  col- 
onies and  are  found  in  flocks  throughout  the  year. 

They  differ  markedly  in  habits,  and  are  found  living  in  ground  of 
every  nature,  from  dry  plains  and  wet  marshes  to  the  densest  forest 
growth.  Some  species  possess  marked  vocal  ability,  while  the  voices 
of  others  are  harsh  and  unmusical.  They  feed  on  fruit,  seeds,  and 
insects. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

I.  With  yeilo'w  or  orange  in  the  under  parts. 

A.  Throat  black. 

a.  Back  black 507.  Baltimore  Oriole. 

b.  Back  greenish     .......       506.  Orchard  Oriole  (  $  im.). 

£.  A  black  or  blackish  crescent  on  the  breast ;  outer  tail-feathers  white. 

501.  Meadowlark.     601a.  "Western  Meadowlark. 

C.  Entire  under  parts  yellow,  yellowish,  or  orange. 

a.  Eump  and  tail  orange .     .    .     507.  Baltimore  Oriole  (  9  and  im.). 

b.  Tipper  parts  yellowish  green  .    506.  Orchard  Oriole  (  9  and  im.). 

c.  Upper  parts  brownish,  streaked  and  spotted  with  black ;  tail-feath- 
ers pointed 494.  Bobolink  (  9  and  im.). 

D.  Throat  and  breast  yellow  or  yellowish ;  belly  black  or  dark  grayish 

brown 497.  Yellow-headed  Blackbird. 

II.  Under  parts  black,  with  or  without   metallic  reflec- 
tions. 

A.  Outer  tail-feathers  "75  or  more  shorter  than  middle  ones;  bill  1-00  or 

more  in  length. 

a.  Tail  over  6-00 513.  Boat-tailed  Grackle  $ . 

5.  Tail  under  6-00. 
b^.  Back  bronzy  purple  or  shining,  brassy  bluish  green,  the  feathers 

with  iridescent  bars 511.  Purple  Grackle  (  5  ). 

J'.  Back  bronze,  without  iridescent  bars. 

bWb.  Bronzed  Grackle  $  . 
ft8.  Back  bottle-green,  the  feathers  more  purple  at  their  base,  and 
with  a  narrow  iridescent  bar  near  the  middle. 

511a.  Florida  Grackle  (J. 
ft*.  Back  bluish  black,  with  or  without  iridescent  bars. 

511.  Purple  Grackle  (  9  ).     611a.  Florida  Grackle  9. 

B.  Outer  tail-feathers  little  if  any  shorter  than  middle  ones ;  bill  less 

than  1-00  in  length. 
a.  Entire  plumage  bluish  black,  the  feathers  sometimes  tipped  with 

buflfy  or  rufous 609.  Kusty  Blackbird. 

h.  A  red  and  buff  shoulder-patch.    .   498.  Red-winged  Blackbird  (  i  ). 


BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,  ETC.  261 

c.  Head  and  neck  all  around  seal-brown     ....    495.  Cowbird  3 . 

a!.  Nape  butty,  rump  whitish 494.  Bobolink  3. 

m.  Under  parts  grayish,  slate-color,  chestnut,  or  buflfy. 

A.  Under  parts  grayish  or  slate-color. 

a.  Under  parts  grayish  ;  bill  finchlike  ;  wing  under  4-00. 

495.  Cowbird  ?  . 

b.  Under  parts   and  upper  parts  slate-color,  the  feathers  sometimes 
tipped  with  brownish 509.  Kusty  Blackbird  ? . 

B.  Under  parts  buffy  or  chestnut. 

a.  Under  parts  buffy,  generally  with  a  few  black  streaks. 

494.  Bobolink  $ . 

b.  Under  parts  buft'y,  without  black  streaks ;  tail  about  5-00. 

513.  Boat-tailed  Grackle  ? . 

c.  Under  parts  chestnut ;  throat  black. 

506.  Orchard  Oriole  (  6  ad.). 
IV.  Under  parts  black  and  white,  or  black  tipped  or  mar- 
gined with  rusty. 

a.  Under  parts  streaked  black  and  white,  or  black  tipped  with  white ; 

shoulder  generally  red  or  reddish. 

498.  Eed-winged  Blackbird  (  9  and  im.). 
4986.  Florida  Redwing  (  ?  and  im.). 

b.  Upper  parts  and  under  parts  tipi^ed  with  rusty. 

509.  Kusty  Blackbird  (im.). 

c.  Nape  buffy,  rump  whitish 494.  Bobolink  $ . 

494.  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  {Linn.).  Bobolink  ;  Eeedbird  ; 
RicEBiRD.  Ad.  $  ,  breeding  plumage. — Top  and  sides  of  the  head  and  under 
parts  black,  the  feathers  more  or  less  tipped  with  a  narrow  whitish  or  cream- 
buff  fringe,  which  wears  off  as  the  season  advances ;  back  of  the  neck  with  a 
large  yellowish  cream-buff  patch;  middle  of  back  generally  streaked  with 
cream-buff;  sca]3ulars,  lower  back,  and  upper  tail-coverts  soiled  grayish 
white ;  wings  and  tail  black  ;  tail-feathers  with  pointed  tips  ;  bill  blue-black. 
Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts  olive-buff,  streaked  with  black ;  crown  blackish,  with  a 
central  stripe  of  olive  buff';  nape  finely  spotted  and  back  broadly  streaked 
with  black  ;  wings  and  tail  brownish  fuscous  ;  tail-feathers  ^'\\h  pointed  tips  ; 
under  parts  yellowish  or  buffy  white.  Ad.  in  fall  and  Im. — Similar  to 
female,  but  huffier  and  more  olivaceous  throughout.  L.,  7'25 ;  W.,  3-76 ;  T., 
2-73 ;  B.,  -55. 

Bemarhs. — The  young  and  adults  in  fall  plumage  are  known  as  Reed- 
birds.  Adults  acquire  this  plumage  by  a  complete  molt  after  the  breeding 
season.  The  breeding  plumage  is  regained  by  a  complete  molt  in  the  spring, 
and  not,  as  has  been  supposed,  by  a  cliange  in  the  color  of  the  feathers  with- 
out molting.  Freshly  plumaged  males  have  the  black  veiled  by  yellow  tips 
to  the  feathers;  these  gradually  wear  off,  and  by  June  have  almost  entirely 
disappeared  (cf.  Chapman,  Auk,  x,  1893,  p.  309). 

Range. — Breeds  from  southern  New  Jersey  northward  to  Nova  Scotia, 
westward  to  Utah  and  northern  Montana ;  leaves  the  United  States  by  way  of 
Florida,  and  winters  in  South  America. 


262  BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,  ETC. 

Washington,  T.  V.,  common  in  spring,  abundant  in  fall ;  May  1  to  May  27 ; 
Aug.  5  to  Oct.  1.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  K,  May  1  to  Oct.  5.  Cam- 
bridge, very  common  S.  E.,  May  8  to  Sept.  10. 

Nest^  of  grasses,  on  the  ground.  Eggs^  four  to  seven,  grayish  white,  fre- 
quently tinged  with  the  color  of  the  numerous  irregular  spots  and  blotches  of 
olive-brown  or  umber,  '%h  x  -62. 

In  June  our  fields  and  meadows  echo  with  the  Bobolink's  "  mad 
music  "  as,  on  quivering  wing,  he  sings  in  ecstasy  to  his  mate  on  her 
nest  in  the  grasses  below.  What  a  wonderful  song  it  is !  An  irre- 
pressible outburst ;  a  flood  of  melody  from  a  heart  overflowing  with 
the  joy  of  early  summer. 

But  this  glad  season  is  soon  over.  Even  before  the  tide  of  the  year 
is  full,  the  Bobolink  begins  to  prepare  for  the  long  journey  to  his  win- 
ter resorts.  Dolfing  his  jaunty  costume  of  black,  white,  and  buff,  he 
dons  the  less  conspicuous  dress  of  his  mate,  and  travels  in  disguise 
under  the  assumed  name  of  Reedbird  or  Ricebird.  His  voice  is  hushed, 
save  for  a  single  call-note — a  metallic  chink.  He  travels  both  by  day 
and  night,  and  from  the  sky  we  hear  his  watchword  as  he  signals  his 
companions. 

The  wild-rice  marshes  of  our  coasts  and  rivers  are  the  rendezvous 
of  the  countless  flocks  of  Bobolinks,  which  later  will  invade  South 
America,  stopping  en  route  to  visit  the  rice  fields  of  South  Carolina 
and  Georgia.  They  pass  the  winter  south  of  the  Amazon,  and  in 
March  or  April  begin  their  northward  journey.  The  males,  in  flocks 
of  two  or  three  hundred,  precede  the  females  by  several  days.  They 
reach  Florida  about  April  25,  and  are  then  in  full  song.  Only  one 
who  has  heard  the  Bobolink  sing  can  form  an  idea  of  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  a  flock  of  three  hundred  singing  in  chorus. 

495.  Molothriis  ater  {Bodd.).    Cowbibd.    Ad.  6  .—Head,  neck,  and 

breast  coffee-brown ;  rest  of  the  plumage  glossy  black,  with  metallic  bluish 

and    greenish  reflections.      Ad.    9 . — 

Dark   brownish  gray,  lighter   below, 

especially  on  the  throat.      Young  in 

first  'plumage. — Similar  to  the  female, 

"^^S-  '%Mi^^  ^^^    whiter    below,    all    the    feathers 

^^IW^  edged  with   buffy.     This  plumage  is 

worn  but  a  short  time,  and  is  then 

changed  for  that  of  the  adult,     t,  L., 

.  .     ,„  .       ,    ■      ^        7-92;  W.,  4-24;  T.,  3-03 ;  B., -67. 
Fia.  77.— Cowbird.    (Natural  size.)  '  t>j\c        rp         ^    jc  „ 

^a«$/'e.— Breeds  from  Texas  to  New 

Brunswick  and  Manitoba ;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  southward. 

Washington,  rather  rare  P.  R.,  common  T.  V.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R., 
Mch.  22  to  Nov.  11.  Cambridge,  very  common  S.  R.,  Mch.  25  to  Oct.  15;  oc- 
casional in  winter. 


Bobolink,  male  and  female. 


BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES,  ETC.  263 

Keet^  none,  the  eggs  being  laid  in  the  nests  of  other  species.  Eggs^  white, 
evenly  and  distinctly  speckled  with  cinnamon-brown  or  umber,  -86  x  -65. 

The  Cowbird  is  an  acknowledged  villain,  and  has  no  standing  in 
the  bird  world.  English  Sparrows,  either  because  they  are  not  aware 
of  the  customs  of  New- World  bird  life,  or  because  of  a  possible  and 
not  unlikely  afl&nity,  associate  with  him ;  but  no  self-respecting  Ameri- 
can bird  will  be  found  in  his  company. 

As  an  outcast  he  makes  the  best  of  things,  and  gathers  about  him 
a  band  of  kindred  spirits  who  know  no  law.  There  is  an  air  about  the 
group  which  at  once  tells  the  critical  observer  that  their  deeds  are 
evil.  No  joyous  song  swells  the  throat  of  the  male.  His  chief  con- 
tribution to  the  chorus  of  springtime  is  a  guttural  bubbling  produced 
with  apparently  nauseous  effort.  In  small  flocks  they  visit  both 
pasture  and  woodland,  and  are  given  to  following  cattle,  clustering 
about  the  feet  of  the  herd,  presumably  to  feed  on  the  insects  found 
there.  They  build  no  nest,  and  the  females,  lacking  every  moral  and 
maternal  instinct,  leave  their  companions  only  long  enough  to  deposit 
their  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  and  smaller  birds.  I  can  imagine  no 
sight  more  strongly  suggestive  of  a  thoroughly  despicable  nature  than 
a  female  Cowbird  sneaking  through  the  trees  or  bushes  in  search  of  a 
victim  upon  whom  to  shift  the  duties  of  motherhood. 

The  ill-gotten  offspring  are  born  with  the  Cowbird  character  fully 
developed.  They  demand  by  far  the  greater  share  of  the  food,  and 
through  gluttony  or  mere  size  alone  starve  or  crowd  out  the  rightful 
occupants  of  the  nest.  They  accept  the  attention  of  their  foster-par- 
ents long  after  they  could  care  for  themselves;  and  when  nothing 
more  is  to  be  gained  desert  them  and  join  the  growing  flocks  of  their 
kind  in  the  grainfields. 

497.  Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus  {Bonap.).  Yellow- 
headed  Blackbird.  Ad.  $  .—Head,  neck,  throat,  and  breast  orange-yellow; 
region  before  the  eye  and  chin  black ;  outer  wing-coverts  white,  rest  of  the 
plumage  black.  Ad.  ?  . — Forehead,  line  over  the  eye,  sides  of  the  head,  throat, 
and  upper  breast  pale,  dirty  yellow,  more  or  less  mixed  with  white ;  lower 
breast  generally  more  or  less  marked  with  white  ;  rest  of  the  plumage  grayish 
brown.    L.,  10-00  ;  W.,  5-50  ;  T.,  4-05  ;  B.,  -85. 

Range. — Western  North  America,  north  to  Manitoba,  east  to  Illinois ;  win- 
ters from  the  Southern  States  southward ;  accidental  in  Massachusetts,  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  and  Florida. 

Washington,  A.  V.,  one  instance,  Aug.     Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  record,  Oct. 

Nest^  bulky,  of  coarse  reeds,  grasses,  etc.,  in  marshes.  Eggs.,  four  to  five, 
grayish  white,  evenly  and  rather  obscurely  speckled  with  pale  cinnamon- 
brown,  1-00  X  -72. 

"  These  birds  are  largely  terrestrial  in  their  habits,  and  during  the 
fall  and  winter  months  are  generally  distributed  over  the  prairies  and 


264  BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES,  ETC. 

plains,  often  following  and  running  about  with  the  cattle,  in  company 
with  Cowbirds ;  but.  their  natural  home  is  on  or  about  the  marshy, 
weedy  grounds,  and  during  the  breeding  season  [they  are]  seldom  to 
be  met  with  far  away.  .  .  . 

"  Their  notes  are  harsh,  and  their  attempt  at  song  a  laborious, 
whistling,  squeaky,  chuckling  sound  "  (Goss). 

498«  Agela;ius  phoeniceus  {Linn.).  Red- winged  Blackbird. 
Ad.  $  . — Lesser  wing-coverts — "shoulders"— bright  scarlet;  middle  wing- 
coverts  varying  from  ochraceous-buff  to  bufty  white ;  rest  of  the  plumage 
black — in  fall  and  winter  specimens  more  or  less  tipped  with  rusty.  Im.  $  . — 
Upper  parts  margined  with  rusty  and  buffy  ;  under  parts  tipped  with  whitish  •, 
lesser  wing-coverts  dull  orange-red  mixed  with  black.  Ad.  9  . — Head  and 
back  blackish,  streaked  with  rusty  and  buffy  ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts 
fuscous,  more  or  less  edged  with  ashy;  wings  fuscous,  edged  with  bufty,  the 
lesser  coverts  sometimes  tinged  with  reddish ;  under  parts  conspicuously 
streaked  with  black  and  white;  the  throat  tinged  with  orange  or  yellow. 
,5  L.,  9-51 ;  W.,  4-72;  T.,  3-77  ;  B.,  -88. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  New 
Brunswick  and  Manitoba,  and  winters  from  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  common  P.  K.,  abundant  in  migrations.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  K.,  Feb.  25  to  Nov.  11.  Cambridge,  abundant  S.  R.,  Mch.  to  Aug. ;  a  few 
winter. 

iVes^,  of  coarse  grasses,  weed  stalks,  etc.,  lined  with  finer  grasses  and  root- 
lets, attached  to  low  bushes  or  reeds.  Eggs.^  three  to  five,  pale  blue,  singularly 
streaked,  spotted,  or  scrawled  with  dark  purple  or  black,  chiefly  at  the  larger 
end,  1-04  x  -72. 

A  swiftly  moving,  compact  band  of  silent  birds,  passing  low  through 
the  brown  orchard,  suddenly  wheels  and,  alighting  among  the  bare 
branches,  with  the  precision  of  a  trained  choir  breaks  into  a  wild, 
tinkling  glee.  It  is  quite  possible  that  in  the  summer  this  rude  chorus 
might  fail  to  awaken  enthusiasm,  but  in  the  spring  it  is  as  welcome 
and  inspiring  a  promise  of  the  new  year  as  the  peeping  of  frogs  or 
blooming  of  the  first  wild  flower. 

Plain,  streaked  Mrs.  Redwing,  who  has  been  spending  the  winter  in 
flocks  composed  only  of  others  of  her  sex,  soon  appears,  but  mating  is 
delayed  until  late  April  or  early  May.  Then  we  find  the  old  homes  in 
the  wet  meadows  and  marshes  occupied  by  apparently  the  same  birds 
which  have  dwelt  there  for  years. 

Mounting  the  topmost  branch  of  a  tree  not  far  from  the  nest,  the  male 
becomes  an  ever- vigilant  sentinel.  His  rich  "  kong-quer-ree"  which  by 
association  is  so  strongly  suggestive  of  reedy  marshes,  is  a  signal  that 
"all's  well."  He  challenges  all  suspicious  characters  by  an  inquiring 
chut,  chuck,  and  with  a  long,  shrill  alarm-note,  chee-e-e-e-e,  circles  out  on 
fluttering  wings,  his  gorgeous  crimson  epaulets  showing  conspicuously. 


■  7''^, 


BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,   ETC.  265 

The  nesting  season  is  a  short  one,  and  in  July  young  and  old  begin 
to  gather  in  flocks  in  the  marshes,  where  later  they  will  be  found,  in 
countless  numbers,  feeding  on  the  wild  rice. 

498b*  A.  p.  bryanti  Ridgw.  Florida  Eedwing. — Similar  to  the 
preceding,  but  smaller,  the  bill  much  more  slender ;  $  with  the  under  parts 
less  broadly  streaked  with  black.  W.,  3-70 ;  T.,  3-60 ;  B.,  -90 ;  depth  of  bill 
at  nostril,  "35. 

Range. — Florida  and  the  Bahamas. 

501*  Sturnella  xna,gnsb  (-Linn.).  Meabowlark  ;  Field  Lark.  Ad. 
in  summer. — Prevailing  color  of  the  upper  parts  black,  the  crown  with  a  buffy 
line  through  the  center,  the  back  bordered  and  tipped  with  rufous  and  buffy ; 
outer  tail-feathers  mostly  white,  middle  ones  with  imperfect,  connected  bars, 
not  reaching  the  outer  edge  of  the  feather ;  line  from  the  bill  over  the  eye 
yellow;  sides  of  the  throat  and  ear-coverts  whitish;  throat,  between  the 
lower  branch  of  the  under  mandible,  breast,  and  middle  of  the  upper  belly 
bright  yellow ;  a  black  crescent  on  the  breast ;  sides  and  lofwer  belly  whitish, 
spotted  or  streaked  with  black.  Winter  plumage. — Feathers  all  much  more 
widely  margined,  the  prevailing  color  of  the  upper  ]>arts  rufous-brown  ;  black 
breast  crescent  veiled  with  buffy ;  yellow  of  under  parts  duller.  L.,  10-75 ; 
W.,  4-76  ;  T.,  3-16  ;  B.,  1-30. 

Remarks. — This  bird  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  western  species  by 
its  much  darker  upper  parts,  by  the  imperfect,  confluent  tail-bars,  and  more 
especially  by  the  absence  of  yellow  on  the  sides  of  the  throat. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Minnesota ;  winters  from  Massachusetts  and  Illinois  southward. 

Washington,  common  P.  R.,  less  common  in  winter.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably 
common  S.  E.,  Feb.  20  to  Nov.  27  ;  a  few  winter.  Cambridge,  common  S.  R., 
not  common  W.  V. 

JVest.,  of  grasses,  frequently  arched,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  six, 
white,  spotted  or  speckled  with  cinnamon  or  reddish  brown,  1*15  x  '80. 

In  walking  through  grassy  fields,  meadows,  or  marshes,  we  some- 
times flush  rather  large,  brownish  birds,  which,  alternately  flapping 
and  sailing,  scale  away  with  a  flight  that  suggests  a  Quail's.  Their 
white  outer  tail-feathers  show  conspicuously,  and  if,  instead  of  return- 
ing to  the  ground,  they  alight  on  a  fence  or  the  outer  branch  of  a  tree, 
as  they  utter  a  nasal  peent^  they  will  nervously  flit  their  tails,  display- 
ing the  same  white  feathers. 

When  in  an  exposed  position  they  are  wary  and  difficult  to  ap- 
proach, but  when  walking  about  on  the  ground  they  trust  to  the  long 
grasses  for  protection,  and  sometimes  do  not  take  wing  until  one  is 
within  a  few  feet  of  them. 

In  Cuba  I  noticed  that  a  Meadowlark,  closely  related  to  ours,  was 
very  careful  to  conceal  its  brightly  colored  breast,  with  its  distinctly 
marked  crescent,  and,  although  even  perching  birds  were  not  shy,  they 


266  BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,   ETC. 

would  invariably  turn  their  backs  upon  me  as  1  drew  near.     Do  our 
Meadowlarks  practice  the  same  impolite  habit  ? 

The  Meadowlark's  song  is  a  clear,  plaintive  whistle  of  unusual 
sweetness.  It  is  subject  to  much  variation,  both  individually  and 
geographically.     The  birds  near  my  home  at  Englewood,  N.  J,,  gen- 


erally sing:      ^--J^-^—-^ IlE^^=z^=*=:     But    the 


songs  of  Florida  birds  are  so  different,  I  hardly  recognized  them  by 
their  notes. 

In  the  fall,  Meadowlarks  at  the  north  gather  in  flocks  and  resort  to 
large  marshes. 

501a>.  S.  m.  neglecta,  (Aud.).  Western  Meadowlakk;  Prairie 
Lark. — Prevailing  color  of  the  upper  parts  grayish  brown,  crown  with  a  cen- 
tral buffy  stripe ;  back  black,  feathers  widely  margined  with  grayish  brown  ; 
rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  with  narrow  black  bars;  outer  tail-feathers 
mostly  white ;  middle  ones  brownish  gray,  barred  with  black,  the  bars  gen- 
erally rio^  connected,  and  as  a  rule  reaching  the  margins  of  the  feathers; 
line  from  the  bill  over  the  eye  yellow ;  ear-coverts  grayish  white ;  throat 
yellow,  this  color  reaching  up  on  the  sides  of  the  throat  and  touching  the  ear- 
coverts  :  breast  and  upper  belly  yellow,  a  black  crescent  on  the  breast ;  sides 
and  lower  belly  whitish,  spotted  or  streaked  with  black.  Winter  plumage. — 
Upper  parts  more  widely  margined  with  grayish  brown,  these  grayish  brown 
tips  with  small,  broken  black  bars ;  yellow  of  under  parts  duller,  the  black 
crescent  veiled  with  whitish.     W.,  4-60 ;  T.,  3-00  ;  B.,  1-25. 

Range. — "  Western  North  America,  north  to  British  Columbia  and  Mani- 
toba ;  east  regularly  to  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  Texas,  sparingly  to 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin ;  south  through  western  Mexico  "  (Eidgw.). 

The  Western  Meadowlark  resembles  the  eastern  bird  in  habits  but 
differs  from  it  so  decidedly  in  song  that  some  ornithologists  consider 
it  a  distinct  species  and  not  a  geographical  race.  In  his  charming 
biography  of  the  Prairie  Lark,  Ernest  E.  Thompson  writes:  "In  rich- 
ness of  voice  and  modulation  it  equals  or  excels  both  Wood  Thrush 
and  Nightingale,  and  in  the  power  and  beauty  of  its  articulation  it 
has  no  superior  in  the  whole  world  of  feathered  choristers  with  which 
I  am  acquainted  "  (Birds  of  Manitoba). 

The  Troupial  {502.  Icterus  icterus),  a  South  American  species,  was  re- 
corded by  Audubon  as  accidental  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

506.  Icterus   spurius   (Linn.).     Orchard  Oriole.     Ad.  6 . — Head, 

neck,  throat,  and  upper  back  black  ;  breast,  belly,  lower  back,  and  lesser 
wing-coverts  chestnut ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous,  more  or  less  edged  or  tipped 
with  whitish.  Ad.  9  .—Upper  parts  grayish  olive-green,  brighter  on  the 
head  and  rump  ;  wings  fuscous,  middle  and  greater  coverts  tipped  with  whit- 
ish ;   tail  bright  olive-green ;  under  parts  dull  yellow.     Jm.  $  ,  Jlrst  year.— 


BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,   ETC.  267 

Similar  to  the  ad.  ?  ,  but  with  the  back  browner.  Im.  ^  ,  second  year. — Simi- 
lar to  the  ad.  $  ,  but  with  the  throat  black  and  occasionally  patches  of  chest- 
nut on  the  under  parts.  L.,  7*32 ; 
W.,  3-18  ;  T.,  2-92  ;  B.,  -65. 

Range. — Eastern  North  Amer- 
ica; breeds  from  the  Gulf  States 
to  Massachusetts  and  Ontario, 
and  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  K., 
Apl.  28  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  com- 
mon S.  E.,  May  2  to  Aug.  6.  Cam- 
bridge, S.  E.,  sometimes  rather 
common.  May  15  to  July. 

Nest.,  pensile,  of  grasses  inter- 
woven, near  the  extremity  of  a 
limb,  ten  to  fifteen  feet  up.     Eggs,   Fig.  78. -Orchard  Oriole.    (Im.    «  ,  second 

'  i-         yy  1  year.)    (Natural  size.) 

three  to  live,   bluish   white,  dis- 
tinctly and  obscurely  spotted,  blotched,  and  scrawled  with  fuscous  or  black, 
•79  X  -58. 

Although  the  Orchard  Oriole  generally  frequents  apple  orchards, 
he  is  entirely  at  home  among  the  shade  trees  of  our  lawns. 

There  is  an  air  of  refinement  about  this  bird  which  seems  to  per- 
vade his  whole  life  history.  He  dresses  quietly  but  with  excellent 
taste,  his  nest  is  of  the  choicest  materials,  while  his  song  suggests  the 
finished  effort  of  a  perfectly  trained  performer.  His  voice  is  indeed 
unusually  rich  and  flexible,  and  he  uses  it  with  rare  skill  and  expres- 
sion. Words  can  not  describe  his  song,  but  no  lover  of  bird-music 
will  be  long  in  the  vicinity  of  a  singing  Orchard  Oriole  without  learn- 
ing the  distinguished  songster's  name. 

507«  Icterus  galbula.  {Linn.).  Baltimore  Oriole;  Firebird; 
Golden  Eobin  ;  Hang-nest.  Ad.  3 . — Head,  neck,  throat,  and  upper  back 
black  ;  breast,  belly,  lower  back,  and  lesser  wing-coverts  deep,  rich,  reddish 
orange  ;  wings  black,  the  outer  margin  of  the  greater  coverts  and  quills  edged 
with  white  ;  end  half  of  middle  tail-feathers  black,  base  orange  ;  all  the  others 
orange,  crossed  by  a  black  band  in  the  middle.  Ad.  $  . — Upper  parts  brown- 
ish or  grayish  orange,  brighter  on  the  rump  ;  head  and  back  mottled  with 
black ;  wings  fuscous,  greater  and  middle  coverts  tipped  with  white ;  tail 
like  the  rump,  the  middle  feathers  stained  with  black;  imder  parts  dull 
orange,  throat  sometimes  spotted  with  black.  L.,  V-53 ;  W.,  3-52;  T.,  2-84; 
B.,  -70. 

^aw^(?.— Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  New 
Brunswick  ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  rather  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  28  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  E.,  May  2  to  Sept.  1.  Cambridge,  very  common  S.  E.,May  8  through  Aug. 
...  Nest.,  pensile,  of  grasses,  bark,  plant  fibers,  hair,  strings,  etc.,  firmly  inter- 
woven, in  fruit  or  shade  trees,  near  the  extremity  of  a  limb  twenty  to  forty 


268  BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,  ETC. 

feet  up.     Eggs^  four  to  six,  white,  singularly  scrawled  with  fine,  distinct  or 
obscure  black  or  fuscous  lines,  and  with  a  few  spots  or  blotches,  -94  x  -63. 

Sometimes  Nature,  as  if  to  remind  us  of  the  richness  of  her  stores, 
sends  from  the  tropics  a  gayly  attired  bird  who  seems  quite  out  of 
place  among  the  more  soberly  clad  inhabitants  of  northern  climes. 
The  genus  Icterus  contains  nearly  forty  species,  all  more  or  less 
brightly  dressed  in  orange,  yellow,  and  black,  but  not  one  is  more 
beautiful  than  our  Baltimore  Oriole. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  he  is  not  unaware  of  his  own 
charms;  indeed,  we  may  almost  suspect  him  of  intentionally  display- 
ing them.  His  splendor  is  not  to  be  lost  in  the  forest,  and,  whistling 
loudly,  he  flashes  through  our  fruit  and  shade  trees. 

He  generally  leaves  to  the  female  the  task  of  constructing  their 
wonderfully  made  nest,  but  he  seems  quite  as  deeply  interested  in  the 
performance  as  if  he  were  a  skilled  weaver  himself  ;  indeed,  he  would 
probably  assist  if  he  were  permitted. 

Young  Orioles  have  been  well  named  by  Mrs.  Olive  Thorne  Miller 
the  cry-babies  of  the  bird  world.  Their  ceaseless  call  for  food  is 
almost  as  much  a  midsummer  voice  as  the  song  of  cicadas.  Long 
after  they  have  left  the  nest  we  may  find  them  in  the  different  trees 
about  our  lawn  calling  out  monotonously  and  persistently  dee-dee- 
dee-dee,  until  one  of  the  parents  arrives  and  momentarily  stops  their 
mouths. 

Bullock's  Oriole  {508.  Icterus  lulloclci)^  a  species  of  our  Western  States, 
has  been  taken  at  Bangor,  Maine. 

509.  Scolecophagus  carolinus  {Mull.).    Eusty  Blackbird.    Ad. 

3,  'breeding  plumage. — Entire  plumage  uniform  glossy  bluish  black;  tail- 
feathers  of  nearly  equal  length.  Ad.  <?  in  fall  and  winter  plumage. — Simi- 
lar, but  the  upper  parts  widely  tipped  with  rufous  or  rusty,  the  under  parts 
similarly  tipped  with  ochraceous-  or  cream-buff;  a  butfy  line  over  the  eye. 
Ad.  ?  in  breeding  plumage. — Slate-color,  glossy  above,  duller  below  ;  wings 
and  tail  darker  and  more  glossy.  Ad.  ?  in  fall  and  winter. — Similar,  but 
somewhat  lighter,  the  upper  parts  widely  tipped  with  rufous  or  rusty,  the 
under  parts  similetrly  tipped  with  ochraceous-  or  cream-buff.  L.,  9-55;  W., 
4-61 ;  T.,  3-52  ;  B.,  -80. 

Jiang e.— Breeds  from  New  Brunswick  and  Manitoba  northward  to  Labra- 
dor and  Alaska ;  winters  from  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Oct.  25  to  Apl.  25.  Sing  Sing,  common  T. 
v.,  Mch.  26  to  May  8 ;  Sept.  28  to  Nov.  27.  Cambridge,  very  common  T.  V., 
Mch.  to  May  5 ;  Sept.  and  Oct. 

JVest^  of  twigs  and  coarse  grasses  lined  with  tiner  grasses,  in  coniferous 
trees  or  on  the  ground.  Eggs,  four  to  seven,  grayish  green  to  pale  green, 
thickly  blotched  with  light  and  dark  brown  and  purple,  1-00  x  -76  (Cham- 
berlain). 


BLACKBIRDS,   ORIOLES,  ETC.  269 

This  bird  is  found  during  the  migrations  in  small  flocks  oh  fresh- 
water meadows  or  about  open,  bushy  swamps,  feeding  on  the  ground 
in  alder  thickets  or  along  the  edges  of  swampy  woods.  It  resembles, 
more  or  less,  the  Red-winged  Blackbird  in  size,  flight,  and  notes,  but 
unlike  this  species,  with  which  it  sometimes  associates,  it  is  compara- 
tively quiet  and  retiring.  Only  at  times,  in  the  spring,  do  we  find  the 
flocks  musical  centers,  whence  issues  a  confused  medley  of  whistles, 
sweeter  and  higher-pitched  than  the  best  efforts  of  the  Redwings. 
Little  is  known  of  this  Blackbird  in  its  northern  home.  It  gathers 
into  flocks  early  in  the  summer,  and  the  most  frequently  heard  note 
is  a  *'  cluck,^^  not  in  the  least  characteristic.  Its  quiet  demeanor,  pale- 
yellow  eye,  and  uniform  color  are  its  chief  distinguishing  characters 
in  the  field,  where  it  may  be  mistaken  for  the  Bronzed  or  Purple 
Crackle.     The  gray  female  is  unlike  the  streaked  female  Redwing. 

J.  DwiGHT,  Jr. 

Breweb's  Blackbird  {510.  Scolecophagus  cyanocejphalus)  inhabits  west- 
ern North  America,  and  is  of  casual  occurrence  as  far  east  as  Illinois  and 
Louisiana,  and  has  been  once  recorded  from  South  Carolina.  It  may  be  dis- 
tinguished from  S.  carolinus  by  its  deep  violet-purple  head  and  the  compara- 
tive absence  of  rusty  tips  to  the  feathers. 

511.  QuiscaJus  quiscula;  {Linn.).  Purple  Grackle  ;  Crow  Black- 
bird. (See  Fig.  46,  c.)  Ad.  6. — Head,  neck,  throat,  and  upper  breast  all 
around  varying  from  brilliant  metallic  purple  to  bluish  green  or  steel-blue ; 
back  and  rump  varying  from  bottle-green  to  metallic  purple  or  shining  brassy 
green,  the  feathers  loith  iridescent  bars  ;  wings  and  tail  externally  metallic 
purple  or  bluish  black  ;  lower  breast  and  belly  resembling  the  back  but  duller. 
Ad.  9  .—Much  duller  than  the  male,  but  the  feathers  of  the  back  generally  show- 
ing at  least  traces  of  iridescence,     i  L.,  12-00-13-50 ;  W.,  5-66  ;  T.,  5-18  ;  B.,  1-18. 

Remarlcs. — Intermediates  between  this  and  the  Bronzed  Grackle  are  found 
where  their  ranges  adjoin,  but  typical  quiscula  always  has  iridescent  bars  on 
the  feathers  of  the  back,  rump,  and  belly,  while  in  oineus  these  bars  are  want- 
ing. (On  the  relationships  of  this  group  see  Chapman,  Bull.  Am.  Mus.  Nat. 
Hist.,  iv,  1892,  pp.  1-20.) 

Eange.—Br&%^&  in  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley  and  east  of  the  Allegha- 
nies  from  Georgia  to  Massachusetts ;  winters  in  the  Southern  States. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.  and  S.  E.,  Feb.  20 ;  a  few  winter.  Sing  Sing, 
tolerably  common  S.  E.,  Feb.  15  to  Nov.  8. 

Mst,  bulky  and  compact,  of  mud  and  coarse  grasses  lined  with  finer 
grasses,  in  colonies,  generally  in  coniferous  trees  about  thirty  feet  up,  some- 
times in  bushes  or  holes  in  trees.  Eggs.,  three  to  six,  very  variable,  generally 
pale  bluish  or  bluish  green,  singularly  spotted,  blotched,  or  scrawled  with 
cinnamon-brown,  umber,  or  black,  but  sometimes  evenly  speckled  with  brown- 
ish, and  rarely  almost  solid  cinnamon-  or  rufous-brown,  1*15  x  -82. 

When  winter  gives  signs  of  retreating  there  comes  from  the  south 
in  sable  array  the  tried  advance  guard  of  the  feathered  army  which  is 


270  BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES,  ETC. 

impatiently  awaiting  the  order  to  advance.  In  close  rank  they  come, 
phalanx  after  phalanx,  to  retake  the  land  which  winter — once  conquer- 
ing, now  defeated — yields  to  them.  The  air  resounds  to  marshal  music ; 
their  harsh  voices,  united,  rise  in  an  inspiring  chorus. 

The  campaign  over,  they  settle  in  colonies  on  their  recently  acquired 
possessions,  and  these  careless  rovers  become  so  attached  to  their  homes 
and  families  that  they  are  rarely  seen  far  from  their  vicinity.  Some- 
times we  may  see  them  walking  sedately  over  the  lawns  near  their 
home,  their  glossy  plumage  gleaming  in  the  light,  and  their  yellow 
eyes  giving  them  a  peculiar,  unbirdlike  expression.  But  when  their 
young  are  old  enough  to  care  for  themselves  the  old  habits  return, 
and,  leading  their  offspring  into  the  world,  they  teach  them  the  ways 
of  wanderers.  Meeting  others  of  their  kind,  they  join  forces,  and  in 
the  fall  we  find  them  in  hordes  ravaging  the  country. 

The  Grackle's  disposition  is  as  gloomy  as  his  plumage  is  dark. 
Life  with  him  is  a  serious  affair.  He  seems  to  utterly  lack  the  Blue 
Jay's  sense  of  humor.  As  a  parent  he  is  beyond  reproach,  and  every 
moment  is  devoted  to  the  care  of  his  young,  but  it  is  all  done  in  a  joy- 
less way.  Eggs  and  nestlings  form  part  of  his  fare,  and  I  can  imagine 
bird-mothers  frightening  their  young  into  obedience  by  theatened  visits 
from  that  ogre,  the  Grackle. 

511a<*  Q.  q.  aiglseus  {BaircV).     Florida   Grackle.     Ad.  6. — Head, 

neck,  throat  and  upper  breast  all  around  metallic  violet-purple ;  back  and 
rump  rich  bottle  green,  the  feathers  with  more  or  less  concealed  iridescent 
bars  ;  wings  and  tail  externally  metallic  purple  or  bluish  black ;  the  wing- 
coverts  generally  with  iridescent  tips ;  lower  breast  and  belly  similar  to  the 
back  but  duller.  Ad.  $  . — Not  distinguishable  in  color  from  the  9  of  Q.  quis- 
cula,  but  differing  in  size.     W.,  5-38  ;  T.,  4-90 ;  B.,  1-25. 

Range. — Coast  of  South  Carolina  westward  through  central  Georgia  to 
the  Mississippi ;  south  through  Florida  to  Key  West. 

This  is  a  locally  abundant  bird,  and  is  found  in  flocks  throughout 
the  year.  In  Florida  it  sometimes  lives  in  the  towns  in  which  live- 
oaks  grow,  and  it  also  makes  its  headquarters  in  cypress  "  bays,"  but 
its  favorite  resort  is  among  the  cabbage  palmettos,  upon  the  berries 
of  which  it  feeds. 

511b.  Q.  q.  aeneiis  (Ridgw.).  Bronzed  Grackle;  Crow  Black- 
bird. Ad.  6  . — Head,  neck,  throat,  and  upper  breast  all  around  varying  from 
brilliant  metallic  purple  to  bluish  green  or  steel-blue ;  back  metallic  seal- 
bronze,  the  feathers  ivithout  iridescent  hars ;  wings  and  tail  metallic  pur- 
plish or  bluish  black ;  lower  breast  and  belly  similar  to  the  back  but  duller. 
Ad.  9  . — Much  duller,  the  back  and  belly  brownish,  sometimes  without  me- 
tallic reflections  and  never  with  iridescent  bars.     W.,  5-62;  T.,  5-04;  B.,  1-21. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Texas  to  Great  Slave  Lake,  east  to  the  Alleghanies 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  271 

as  far  north  as  Pennsylvania,  and  north  of  this  eastward  to  Connecticut  and 
northward  to  Labrador  ;  winters  in  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  between  Feb.  20  and  Apl.  15.  Sing  Sing,  tolera- 
bly common  T.  V.,  Apl.;  Nov.  Cambridge,  abundant  S.  R.,  Mch.  to  Oct.; 
occasional  in  winter. 

"The  general  habits  of  the  Bronzed  Grackle  are  in  all  respects 
identical  with  those  of  the  Purple  Grackle.  .  .  . 

"  Prom  an  almost  equal  familiarity  with  the  two  birds  we  are  able 
to  say  that  their  notes  differ  decidedly,  especially  those  of  the  male 
durmg  the  breeding  season,  the  '  song '  of  the  western  birds  being  very 
much  louder  and  more  musical  or  metallic  than  those  of  its  eastern 
relative  "  (Ridgway). 

513.  Quiscalus  major  Vieill.  Boat-tailed  Grackle.  Ad.  $. — 
Glossy  bluish  black  ;  head,  throat,  and  breast  more  purplish,  wings  and  tail 
more  blackish.  Ad.  9  . — Much  smaller,  upper  parts  blackish  brown,  under 
parts  soiled  ochraceous-butf.     3  L.,  16-00 ;  W.,  T'SO ;  T.,  7-00 ;  B.,  1-55. 

Range. — Florida ;  north  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Virginia ;  west  along 
the  Gulf  coast  to  Texas. 

Nest.)  bulky  and  compact,  of  grasses,  seaweed,  etc.,  with  a  median  layer  of 
mud  or  partially  decayed  vegetation,  in  colonies  in  bushes,  ^^ggs.,  three  to 
five,  pale  bluish  white,  frequently  tinged  with  vinaceous-brown,  singularly 
spotted,  blotched,  and  scrawled  with  purplish  or  blackish,  1-32  x  -90. 

Boat-tail  Grackles  are  rarely  if  ever  found  far  from  water.  Shal- 
low lakes  or  marshy  lagoons  grown  with  aquatic  plants  are  their  fa- 
vorite resorts.  Here  they  may  be  seen  in  small  groups,  which  usually 
contain  more  males  than  females,  walking  or  jumping  from  plant  to 
plant,  sometimes  springing  into  the  air  to  catch  a  passing  insect,  or 
wading  along  the  shore  in  search  of  food. 

Their  usual  notes  are  hoarse,  rather  forced  whistles ;  more  rarely 
they  utter  a  singular  rolling  call,  which  bears  a  close  resemblance  to 
the  sound  produced  by  a  Coot  in  pattering  over  the  water. 

Family  Fringillidje.    Finches,  Sparrows,  etc. 

This,  the  largest  family  of  birds,  contains  some  five  hundred  and 
fifty  species,  which  are  represented  in  all  parts  of  the  world  except 
the  Australian  region.  Its  members  present  wide  diversity  of  form 
and  habit,  but  generally  agree  in  possessing  stout,  conical  bills,  which 
are  admirably  adapted  to  crush  seeds.  They  are  thus  chief  among 
seed-eaters,  and  for  this  reason  are  not  so  migratory  as  insect-eating 
species. 

The  brown,  streaked  Sparrows  are,  to  a  large  extent,  field-  or  plain- 
inhabiting,  and  their  neutral  colors  are  therefore  a  means  of  protec- 
tion in  the  exposed  situations  they  inhabit.     The  brighter  Grosbeaks 


272  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

and  Finches  are  more  arboreal.     Many  species  take  high  rank  as  song 
sters,  and  some  of  our  favorite  cage-birds  belong  to  this  family. 

KKY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

I.  Under  parts  with  red. 
II.  Under  parts  with  no  red  and  without  distinct  streaks ;  throat  or  breast 

sometimes  with  a  patch  or  spot. 
in.  Under  parts  without  red  and  with  numerous  streaks. 

I.  Under  parts  ivith  red. 

A.  WJng-co verts  plainly  tipped  with  white  or  whitish,  or  with  a  white 
or  yellow  band  in  the  wing. 

a.  No  red  in  the  upper  parts. 

a\  Back  black,  rump  whitish,  throat  black,  breast  and  under  wing- 
coverts  rosy  red    .     .     .     595.  Eose-breasted  Grosbeak  (  $  ad.). 

a*.  Back  and  under  parts  streaked  with  black ;  under  wing-coverts 
rosy  red 595.  Eose-breasted  Grosbeak  (  $  im.). 

b.  Red  on  upper  parts  confined  to  crown  or  forehead,  and  sometimes  a 

tinge  on  the  rump ;  wing  under  8'25. 
b^.  Eump  and  flanks  generally  without  blackish  streaks;  feathers 
of  back  generally  with  whitish  borders. 

527.  Greenland  Eedpoll.     527«.  Hoary  Eedpoll. 
b^.  Eump  and  flanks  always  streaked ;  feathers  of  back  with  little 
if  any  white  and  generally  with  brownish  borders. 

528.  Eedpoll  and  races. 
b'.  Back  cinnamon-brown,  unstreaked ;  crown,  nape,  and  sides  of 
the  neck  black;  a  yellow  band  in  the  wing. 

European  Goldfinch. 

c.  Eed  or  pink  spread  more  or  less  over  entire  upper  parts ;  wing  over 

3-25. 
c^.  Tips  of  mandibles  crossed. 

522.  White-winged  Crossbill  (  S  ad.). 
c2.  Bill  stout ;  mandibles  not  crossed  .    515.  Pine  Grosbeak  (  5  ad.). 

B.  Wing-coverts  not  tipped  with  white. 

a.  Throat  black  or  blackish  ;  wings  and  tail  red  ;  body  red  or  olive. 

593.  Cardinal. 

b.  Throat  and  more  or  less  of  under  parts  red  or  greenish  red, 

b^.  Plumage  blood-red,  brownish  red,  or  greenish  red ;  tips  of  the 

mandibles  crossed 521.  Am.  Crossbill  S  . 

b*.  Plumage  dull  reddish  ;  belly  whitish  ;  back  indistinctly  streaked, 
with  bristly  feathers  over  the  nostrils. 

517.  Purple  Finch  (  $  ad.). 
58.  Head  blue  ;  back  green  ;  rump  red. 

601.  Painted  Bunting  (  $  ad.). 
il.  Under  parts  -with  no  red  and  without  distinct  streaks ; 
throat  or  breast  sometimes  -with  a  patch  or  spot. 
1.  Tail  with  white  spots,  bars,  or  patches. 
A.  Back  plain,  without  streaks. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,  ETC.  273 

a.  Throat  and  breast  black,  brown,  or  slate-color,  sharply  defined 
from  the  white  belly. 

a^.  Breast  black  or  brown  ;  sides  rufous    .    .    .  *  .     587.  Towhee. 
a^.  Breast  slate-color ;  sides  the  same,  or  brownish. 

567.  JuNco,    567e.  Carolina  Junoo. 

b.  Throat  and  belly  more  or  less  yellow  or  ashy. 
b^.  Wing  over  4-00 ;  bill  stout,  greenish  yellow. 

514.  Evening  Grosbeak. 
b^.  Bill  small  and  sharp ;  back  brown  ;  throat  yellowish. 

529.  Goldfinch  (  9  and  im.). 
J3.  Body  bright  yellow,  cap  black    .     .     529.  Goldfinch  (  $  ad.). 

c.  Under  parts  pure  white,  middle  of  back  black. 

534.  Snowflake. 
£.  Back  streaked  with  black,  brown,  or  white. 

a.  Bend  of  the  wing  yellow  ;  tail  under  2-20. 

546.  Grasshopper  Sparrow. 

b.  Breast  black  or  blackish  ;  lesser  wing-coverts  reddish  brown. 

539.  McCown's  Longspur  $ . 

c.  Breast  buffy ;  belly  whitish ;  outer  tail-feathers  white,  next  three 
or  four  more  or  less  white  with  a  black  band  at  the  end ;  seconda- 
ries not  entirely  white 539.  McCown's  Longspur  $  . 

d.  Under  parts  entirely  light  brown  or  buffy,  only  two  outer  tail- 
feathers  white ;  no  yellow  on  the  bend  of  the  wing. 

537.  Smith's  Longspur. 

e.  Under  parts  pure  white,  with  a  blackish  spot  on  the  center  of  the 
breast,  a  black  stripe  on  the  sides  of  the  throat ;  sides  of  the 
crown  and  ear-coverts  chestnut     ....     552.  Lark  Sparrow. 

/.  Wing  slightl  y  over  4-00  ;  under  parts  pure  white  or  washed  with 
rusty ;  head  and  rump  white  or  rusty ;  most  of  secondaries  white. 

534.  Snowflake. 
,  Tail  without  large  white  spots  or  patches. 
A.  Back  plain,  without  distinct  streaks. 

a.  Back  blue,  bluish,  or  brownish  blue. 

a^.  Wing  over  3-00 ;  lesser  wing-coverts  chestnut  or  with  broad 
chestnut  tips 597.  Blue  Grosbeak. 

a*.  Wing  under  3-00 ;  lesser  wing-coverts  blue  or  bluish,  tipped 
with  light  brown 598.  Indigo  Bunting. 

b.  Back  green  or  greenish,  or  rump  yellow  or  greenish  yellow. 
J*.  Mandibles  not  crossed. 

62.  Back  greenish 601.  Painted  Bunting  9  . 

b^.  Back  and  under  parts  slaty  gray  ;  bill  black. 

515.  Pine  Grosbeak  (  9  and  im.). 
b*.  Forehead,  rump,  under  parts,  and  scapulars  yellow  or  brown- 
ish yellow ;  secondaries  white  ;  bill  yellow. 

514.  Evening  Grosbeak  $ . 
cK  Mandibles  crossed, 
c*.  Wing-bars  white  ....    522.  White-winged  Crossbill. 

c*.  Without  white  wing-bars 521.  Am.  Crossbill. 

19 


274  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,  ETC. 

c.  Back  brown  or  brownish,  ashy,  or  slate-color. 

c^.  Head  and  rump  yellowish  or  reddish  ;  wing-bars  white ;  wing 

over  4-00 515.  Pine  Grosbeak  (  $  and  im.). 

f*.  Under  parts  brownish  cream-buff;   wing-coverts  with  broad 
chestnut  tips ;  wing  over  3-00     .    .     .     597.  Blue  Grosbeak  9  . 
c^.  Under  parts  whitish ;  wing  without  yellow  and  under  3-00. 

598.  Indigo  Bunting  )  . 
c*.  Back  ashy  ;  spot  before  the  eye  and  on  bend  of  wing  yellow. 

550.  Seaside  Sparrow. 
£.  Back  distinctly  streaked. 

a.  Bend  of  the  wing  yellow, 
fli.  Tail  over  2-20. 

a^.  A  white  throat-patch;  breast  gray;  a  yellowish  line  over 

the  eye 558.  White-throated  Sparrow. 

a^.  A  black  spot  on  the  throat ;  breast  yellow,  or  both. 

604.    DiCKCISSEL. 

a*.  No  yellow  over  the  eye ;  breast  ashy  or  buffy ;  outer  tail- 
feathers  much  the  shortest. 

575.  PiNE-wooDS  Sparrow.     675a.  Bachman's  Sparrow. 
6^.  Tail  under  2-20,  the  feathers  narrow  and  sharply  pointed. 
b^.  Crown  olive-brown,   a  blue-gray  line  through  its  center; 
cheeks  and  breast  ochraceous-butf. 

549a.  Nelson's  Sparrow. 
Js.  Crown  blackish,  a  cream-buff  line  through  its  center. 

546.   Grasshopper  Sparrow. 

b.  Bend  of  the  wing  not  yellow. 

Ji.  Crown  bright  reddish  brown,  the  feathers  sometimes  tipped 
with  ashy  or  brownish,  but  tvWiout  black  streaJcs. 
b^.  No  white  or  whitish  wing-bars ;   outer  tail-feathers  much 
shorter  than  middle  ones;   lesser  wing-coverts,  upper  tail- 
coverts,  and  margins  of  most  of  the  tail-feathers  rufous ;  wing 

under  2-50 584.  Swamp  Sparrow. 

Js.  Cheeks  and  throat  ashy,  a  narrow  reddish  brown  line  from 
back  of  the  eye  to  the  nape,  an  indistinct  black  spot  in  the 

center  of  the  breast 559.  Tree  Sparrow. 

ft*.  Eye-ring  whitish,  entire  bill  brownish  flesh-color. 

563.  Field  Sparrow. 
J6.  Eump  slaty  gray;  under  parts  generally  all  grayish  white; 
forehead  black,  with  a  narrow  grayish  line  in  its  middle,  a 
narrow  black  line  from  back  of  the  eye  to  the  nape. 

560.  Chipping  Sparrow. 
c».  Crown  streaked  or  spotted  with  black  or  black  and  white. 
c^.  Crown  with  chestnut  streaks,  and  sometimes  a  slight  ashy 
line  through  its  center ;  no  white  or  whitish  wing-bars  ;  outer 
tail-feathers  much  shorter  than  middle  ones. 

584.  Swamp  Sparrow  (Im.). 

c*.  Crown  with  reddish  brown ;  rump  ashy ;  wing-bars  buffy ; 

middle  tail-feathers  shortest.     560.  Chipping  Sparrow  (Im.). 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  275 

c*.  Center  of  crown  white;  the  sides  black;  wing-bars  white. 

554.  White-crowned  Sparrow. 

c^.  Crown  grayish  ;  mandibles  crossed     .    521.  Am.  Crossbill. 

dy.  Crown  mixed  grayish  brown  and  rufous,  ashy,  or  slate-color, 

without  hlach  streaks. 

dfl.  Wing  2-50  ;  bill  brownish  flesh-color  ;  back  rufous,  streaked 

with  black 563.  Field  Sparrow. 

d^.  Wing  3-00;  center  of  crown  grayish  brown,  bordered  by 
chestnut  -  rufous ;  back  grayish  brown,  spotted  with  olive- 
brown   554.  White-crowned  Sparrow. 

<f*.  Crown  slate-color ;  a  chestnut  patch  behind  the  eye  ;  throat 

black P.  282.  English  Sparrow  $, . 

d^.  Crown   entirely  dull   brown ;   lesser  wing-coverts  broadly 

tipped  with  buffy P.  282.  English  Sparrow  9 . 

HI.  Under  parts  without  red  and  with  numerous  streaks. 
1.  Tail-feathers  without  white  or  yellow  spots  or  patches,  the  outer  ones 
little  if  any  shorter  than  the  middle  pair. 

A.  Head  of  about  the  same  color  as  the  back ;  no  yellow  over  the  eye,  or 
on  the  bend  of  the  wing,  or  under  wing-coverts. 

a.  Kump  yellowish  or  yellowish  green  ;  mandibles  crossed. 
fli.  Wing-coverts  tipped  with  white. 

522.  White-winged  Crossbill  9^ 
a'.  Wing-coverts  not  tipped  with  white   .     .     521.  Am.  Crossbill  9  . 
h.  Mandibles  not  crossed ;  rump  brown  or  brownish  or  sandy  like  the 
back ;  wing  under  3*25. 

b^.  Back  pale  brownish  ashy,  streaked  with  brownish;  a  whitish 
streak  over  the  eye ;  legs  flesh-color ;  first  primary  as  long  or  longer 

than  the  second 541.  Ipswich  Sparrow. 

b*.  Back  and  most  of  under  parts  streaked  with  black  and  reddish 
brown ;  upper  and  under  tail-coverts  streaked ;  first  primary  shorter 
than  second ;  outer  tail-feathers  shorter  than  middle  ones. 

581.  Song  Sparrow. 
b*.  Back  distinctly  streaked  ;  a  cream-buflF  band  across  the  breast. 

583.  Lincoln's  Finch. 
h*.  Back  grayish   brown,   the    feathers    with    or   without    distinct 
streaks;    first  primaries  nearly   as  long  or  longer  than  second; 
outer  tail-feathers  longer  than  middle  pair ;  legs  and  feet  black- 
ish ;  with  bristly  feathers  over  the  nostrils. 

517.  Purple  Finch  ?  . 
b^.  Back  without  streaks ;  no  bristly  feathers  over  the  nostrils. 

598.  Indigo  Bunting  $  . 
c.  Mandibles  not  crossed ;  upper  tail-feathers  and  tail  bright  reddish 
brown,  without  black  streaks ;  rump  brighter ;  wing  about  3-50. 

585.  Fox  Sparrow. 

B.  Head  of  about  the  same  color  as  the  back ;  a  yellow  mark  before  the 
eye,  or  on  the  bend  of  the  wing,  or  under  wing-coverts. 

a.  Wing  about  4*00  ;  under  wing-coverts  deep  yellow. 

595.  Eose-breasted  Grosbeak  ?. 


276  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

b.  Wing  generally  under  2-90 ;  feathers  of  the  crown  black,  bordered 
by  chestnut-brown ;  a  bufi'y  line  through  the  center  of  crown. 

542a.  Savanna  Sparrow. 
e.  "Wing  generally  over  2-90;  feathers  of  crown  with  small  black  cen- 
ters bordered  with  cinnamon-brown  and  pale  brownish  gray. 

541.  Ipswich  Sparrow. 
d.  Wing  about  3-00 ;  breast  washed  with  yellow  .  .  604  Dickcissel. 
€.  Wing  about  3-00  ;  sides  brownish  ;  throat  white,  quite  diflerent  from 

the  grayish  breast 558.  White-throated  Sparrov/. 

C.  A  bright  red  crown-cap ;  no  yellow  before  the  eye  or  on  the  bend  of 
the  wing. 

a.  Eump  and  flanks  always  heavily  streaked  with  blackish. 

528.  Eedpoll  and  races. 

b.  Eump  white,  generally  without  streaks  ;   flanks  lightly  streaked ; 
more  or  less  white  in  the  feathers  of  the  back. 

527.  Greenland  Eedpoll.     627a.  Hoaby  Eedpoll. 

2.  Tail-feathers  without  white  or  yellow  patches,  narrow  and  generally 
sharply  pointed,  the  outer  feathers  always  much  shorter  than  the  middle 
pair. 

A.  Crown  of  a  diff'erent  color  from  the  back,  or  a  bufFy  line  over  the  eye. 

a.  Center  of  crown  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  brownish  or  buflfy  line, 
fli.  Nape  dull,  pale  olive-green,  of  the  same  color  as  the  line  over  the 

eye,  but  finely  streaked  with  black  ;  back  rufous-brown,  streaked 

with  black 547.  Henslow's  Sparrow. 

a^  Nape  bright  rufous-brown,  the  feathers  bordered  by  gray ;  the 
feathers  of  the  back  black,  bordered  by  buffy  whitish. 

548.  Leconte's  Sparrow. 

b.  Center  of  crown  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  stripe  of  ashy  blue. 
b^.  Breast  and  sides  distinctly  streaked  with  black  or  blackish. 

549.  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

&'.  Breast  and  sides  bufi'y  or  brownish,  the  former  generally  without 

distinct  black  streaks    .     549a.  Nelson's  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

549i.  Acadian  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

B.  Crown  of  the  same  color  as  the  back  ;  no  bufi'y  line  over  the  eye. 

a.  A  yellow  spot  before  the  eye  and  on  the  bend  of  wing. 

fli.  Upper  parts  very  dark  brown  or  black ;  the  feathers  edged  with 
olive-gray  or  ashy,  breast  generally  with  black  streaks.     (Florida.) 
550a.  Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow.     551.  Dusky  Seaside  Sparrow. 
a'.  Back  olive-gray  ;  breast  with  grayish  brown  streaks. 

550.  Seaside  Sparrow. 

b.  No  yellow  before  the  eye ;  bend  of  the  wing  yellow. 

575.  Pine-woods  Sparrow.     575a.  Bachman's  Sparrow. 

c.  No  yellow  before  the  eye  or  on  the  bend  of  the  wing. 
c^.  A  broad  cream- buft"  band  across  the  breast. 

583.  Lincoln's  Sparrow. 

c*.  No  cream-buff"  band  on  the  breast ;  streaks  on  the  breast  tending 

to  form  a  spot  in  its  middle .......     581.  Song  Sparrow. 

3.  Tail  with  white  patches  or  base  of  tail  yellow. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,  ETC.  277 

A.  Base  of  the  tail  yellow 533.  Pine  Siskin. 

£.  Outer  tail-feathers  with  white  patches. 

a.  Hind  toe-nail  shorter  than  the  bill  from  the  nostril. 

ai.  Lesser  wing-coverts  rufous ;  breast  streaked  with  black. 

540.  Vesper  SparPwOw. 
a*.  Sides  of  crown  and  ear-coverts  chestnut ;  a  black  spot  on  the  cen- 
ter of  the  breast 552.  Lark  Sparrow, 

b.  Hind  toe-nail  longer  than  bill  from  nostril. 

61.  Under  parts  cream-buff;  two  outer  tail-feathers  mostly  white. 

537.    SillTn's   LONGSPUR. 

J*.  Under  parts  whitish ;  breast  streaked  or  spotted  with  black  or 
entirely  black  ;  second  outer  tail-feather  with  but  little  white. 

536.  Lapland  Longspur. 


A  Field  Key  to  the 

Adult  Male  Finches  and  Sparrows  of  the  Middle  States 

(Virginia  to  Massachusetts)  in  Breeding  Plumage. 

I.  Breast  with  more  or  less  yellow. 
II.  Breast  blue. 

III.  Breast  or  throat  red. 

IV.  Breast  without  either  yellow,  blue,  or  red. 

I.  Breast  with  more  or  less  yellow. 

A.  Chin  white,  throat  black;  haunts  grassy  fields;  song  an  unmusical 
effort  of  six  or  seven  notes  delivered  with  great  earnestness  from  a 
low  perch  (rare  east  of  the  Alleghanies) 604.  Dickcissel. 

£.  Under  parts  and  breast  pure  yellow,  crown  and  wings  black ;  song  a 
sweet  canary  like  warble ;  flight  undulating,  frequently  accompanied 

hj  the  notes  chiC'O-ree^  per-chic-o-ree 529.  Goldfinch. 

n.  Breast  blue. 

A.  Length  over  6-00 ;  plumage  deep  blue,  a  chestnut  bar  across  the  wings 
(not  found  north  of  Virginia) 597.  Blue  Grosbeak. 

JB.  Length  under  6-00  ;  plumage  indigo-blue  ;  liaunts  woody  fields,  scrub 
or  second  growth  ;  song  clear  and  musical,  generally  delivered  from  a 

tree-top 598.  Indigo  Bunting. 

III.   Breast  or  throat  red. 

A.  Length  S'OO ;  throat  and  region  about  the  base  of  the  bill  black,  rest 
of  the  plumage  bright  vermilion-red;  head  with  a  conspicuous  crest; 
song  a  rich,  musical  whistle;  call-note  an  insignificant  cheep ;  haunts 
thickets  and  bushy  woodland  (rare  north  of  New  York  city). 

593.  Cardinal. 

B.  Length  7'50  ;  breast  rose-red ;  belly,  tip  of  the  tail,  rump,  and  a  band 
in  the  wings  white  ;  rest  of  the  plumage  black  ;  haunts  wooded  growths  ; 
song  loud,  clear,  and  highly  musical ;  call-note  a  metallic  joee^. 

595.  Eose-breasted  Grosbeak. 

C.  Length  under  6-50 ;  plumage  more  or  less  heavily  washed  with  dull 


278  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

reddish  ;  haunts  orchards  and  wooded  growths ;  song  a  liquid  warble ; 
call-note  a  metallic  chinlc^  frequently  uttered  while  on  the  wing. 

517.  PuBPLE  Finch. 

B.  Length  about  G-00 ;  plumage  dull  blood-red  ;  mandibles  crossed  at 

the  tips ;  generally  found  in  small  flocks  in  coniferous  woods ;  utters 

a  clicking  or  whistled  note  when  on  the  wing  (rarely  found  south  of 

New  England  after  May  1) 521.  Eed  Crossbill. 

E.  Breast  white,  tinged  with  brown ;  region  about  the  bill  red,  a  yellow 
band  in  the  wings  (rare  except  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  city). 

European  Goldfinch. 
IV.    Breast  without  either  yellow,  red,  or  blue. 
1.  Under  parts  distinctly  streaked  or  spotted. 

A.  Outer  tail-feathers  white,  showing  conspicuously  when  the  bird 
flies ;  haunts  dry  fields  and  roadsides  ;  song  loud  and  musical. 

540.  Vesper  Sparrow. 

B.  Outer  tail-feathers  not  white. 

a.  Song  loud  and  musical ;  an  abundant  and  familiar  bird  of  gen- 
eral distribution ;  spots  on  the  breast  tending  to  form  one  larger 
spot  in  the  center;  crown  umber,  a  whitish  line  over  the  eye. 

581.  Song  Sparrow. 

h.  Song  not  loud  and  musical ;  short  and  generally  unattractive ; 

haunts  wet  meadows  or  marshes  ;  passes  most  of  the  time  on  the 

ground,  rarely  perching  far  from  it,  and  when  flushed  generally 

Teturning  to  it. 

Ji.  A  buffy  line  over  the  eye  and  at  the  side  of  the  throat,  breast 
generally  washed  with  bufl'y ;  haunts  only  salt  marshes  (rarely 
found  far  from  the  vicinity  of  the  seashore.) 

549.  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 
J",  No  bufi"  on  the  sides  of  the  head  or  breast ;  upper  parts  black- 
ish; song  tsip-tsip-tsip^se-e-e-s'r-r-r ;  rarely  breeds  south  of 
New  York  city  ;  haunts  both  salt-  and  fresh-water  marshes. 

542a.  Savanna  Sparrow. 
fr*.  Back  reddish,  head  and  neck  buffy  olive ;  haunts  generally 
wet  pastures ;  song  an  inconspicuous  see-wick  (rather  rare,  liv- 
ing in  small  colonies  of  local  distribution). 

547.  Henslow's  Sparrow. 
2.  Dnder  parts  not  distinctly  streaked  or  spotted. 

A.  Throat  pure  white,  sharply  defined  from  the  grayish  breast,  a 
yellow  spot  over  the  eye;  crown  black,  with  a  central  stripe  of 
white;  haunts  thickets  or  bushy  w^oodlands;  song  a  high,  clear, 
musical  whistle  ;  call-note  a  sharp  chink. 

558.  White-throated  Sparrow. 

B.  Throat  and  breast  black. 

a.  Sides  of  the  throat  and  belly  white,  crown  ash,  sides  of  the 
head  chestnut F.  282.  House  Sparrow. 

b.  Length  8"00 ;  sides  of  the  body  light  rufous,  outer  tail-feathers 
tipped  with  white  ;  haunts  thickets  and  bushy  woodlands  ;  call- 
note  a  vigorous  towhee  or  chee-wink 587.  Towhee. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  279 

G.  Throat  and  breast  slate-color,  like  the  back ;  belly  and  outer  tail- 
feathers  white  ;  bill  ilesh-color  (nests  in  the  Middle  States  only  on 
the  higher  parts  of  the  Alleghanies) 567.  Junco. 

B.  Under  parts  white  or  whitish,  practically  all  one  color. 

a.  Haunts  wet  marshes. 

ai.  Haunts  always  salt  marshes,  generally  near  the  sea ;  back 
grayish 550.  Seaside  Sparrow. 

a'.  Haunts  both  salt-  and  fresh-water  marshes ;  back  brown, 
streaked  with  black ;  cap  and  wings  chestnut ;  song  a  loud, 
sharp,  rapidly  repeated  weet-weet-weet^  etc. 

584.  Swamp  Sparrow. 

b.  Haunts  dry  fields,  pastures,  roadsides,  lawns,  thickets,  etc. 

h^.  Outer  tail-feathers  white,  middle  of  the  breast  with  a  small 
black  spot  (not  found  east  of  the  Alleghanies). 

552.  Lark  Finch. 
c^.  Outer  tail-fea tilers  not  white. 

c'.  Upper  parts  reddish-brown,  bill  pinkish  flesh-color;  haunts 
bushy  fields  and  pastures ;  song  a  musical,  plaintive  cher- 
wee^  cher-wee,  cher-wee^  cheeo-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee. 

563.  Field  Sparrow. 
c\  Bill  dark  brown,  a  buify  line  through  the  center  of  the 
ground;  song  an  insect-like j9^^-^«;^,  zee-zee-zee-zee-zee. 

546.  Grasshopper  Sparrow. 

c*.  Back  streaked   with   black,  cap   chestnut,  a  white  line 

over  the  eye,  bill  black ;  song  a  monotonous  chippy -chippy - 

chippy^  etc 560.  Chipping  Sparrow. 

c^.  Larger,  length  about  7'00 ;  crown  black,  with  a  wliite 
central  stripe ;  throat  not  noticeably  diflferent  from  the 
breast;  no  yellow  over  the  eye  (rare;  nests  north  of  New 
England) 554.  White-crowned  Sparrow. 

514.  Cocothraustes  vespertinus  (Coop.).  Evening  Grosbeak. 
Ad.  $, . — Forehead  yellow,  crown  black ;  sides  of  head  olive-brown,  becoming 
dull  yellow  on  rump;  belly  and  scapulars  yellow,  wings  and  tail  black; 
end  half  of  the  secondaries  and  their  coverts  white.  Ad.  9  . — Brownish  gray, 
lighter  on  the  under  parts,  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow,  especially  on  the 
nape ;  wings  black,  inner  primaries  white  at  the  base,  secondaries  edged  Avith 
white;  tail  black,  the  feathers  tipped  with  white  on  the  inner  web;  upper 
tail-coverts  black  tipped  with  white.    L.,  8-00  ;  W.,  4-50  ;  T.,  3-50 ;  B.,  72. 

Range. — Interior  of  North  America,  from  Manitoba  northward  ;  southeast- 
ward in  winter  to  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  and  casually  to  the  northern 
Atlantic  States. 

Cambridge,  known  to  have  occurred  only  in  winter  of  1889-'90. 

Nest.,  known  but  from  few  specimens,  composed  of  small  twigs  lined  with 
bark,  hair,  or  rootlets,  placed  within  twenty  feet  of  the  ground.  Eggs.,  three 
to  four,  greenish,  blotched  with  pale  brown  (see  Davie). 

This  distinguished  inhabitant  of  the  far  northwest  is  a  common 
winter  visitant  in  Manitoba  and  the  contiguous  parts  of  the  bordering 


280  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,  ETC. 

States.  At  irregular  intervals  it  invades  the  northern  Mississippi 
Valley  in  numbers,  while  still  more  rarely  it  extends  its  wanderings 
to  the  north  Atlantic  States.  It  travels  in  flocks  of  from  six  or  eight 
to  sixty  individuals  which  by  their  tameness  show  their  ignorance  of 
man  and  his  ways.  They  feed  largely  on  the  buds  or  seeds  of  trees — 
maple,  elder,  and  box  elder.  Their  notes  are  described  by  different 
observers  as  a  shrill  "  cheepy-teet,^''  and  a  "  frog-like  peep"  while  one 
writer  remarks  that  "  the  males  have  a  single  metallic  cry  like  the 
note  of  a  trumpet,  and  the  females  a  loud  chattering  like  the  large 
Cherry  Birds  {Ampelis  garrulus).''  Their  song  is  given  as  a  wander- 
ing, jerky  warble,  beginning  low,  suddenly  increasing  in  power,  and 
as  suddenly  ceasing,  as  though  the  singer  were  out  of  breath. 

During  the  winter  and  early  spring  of  1890  there  was  a  phenom- 
enal incursion  of  Evening  Grosbeaks  into  the  Northern  States,  ac- 
counts of  which,  by  Amos  W.  Butler,  will  be  found  in  The  Auk,  ix, 
1892,  pp.  238-247 ;  x,  1893,  pp.  155-157. 

515.  Pinicola  enucleator  (Linn.).  Pine  Grosbeak.  Ad.  $ . — 
Slaty  gray,  more  or  less  strongly  washed  with  rose-red,  strongest  on  the 
crown,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  breast;  wings  fuscous,  their  coverts 
edged  with  white  ;  tail  fuscous.  Ad.  $  .—Slaty  gray,  crown,  upper  tail-cov- 
erts, and  breast  more  or  less  strongly  washed  with  olive-yellow ;  wings  and 
tail  as  in  the  $  .     /m.— Resembles  the  9  .     L.,  9-08  ;  W.,  4-36  ;  T.,  3-67  ;  B.,  -54. 

Bange. — "  Northern  portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  breeding  far 
north;  in  winter  south,  in  North  America,  irregularly  to  the  northern  United 
States." 

Washington,  casual  in  winter.  Sing  Sing,  irregular  W.  V.,  Dec.  18  to 
Apl.  12.  Cambridge,  irregular  W.  V.,  frequently  common,  sometimes  abun- 
dant, Nov.  to  Mch. 

Nest.,  of  twigs  and  rootlets  lined  with  finer  materials,  in  coniferous  trees  a 
few  feet  up.  Eggs, "  pale  greenish  blue,  spotted  and  blotched  with  dark  brown 
surface  markings  and  lilac  shell -spots,  1-05  x  -74." 

The  Pine  Grosbeak,  like  the  Spruce  Partridge  and  Canada  Jay,  may 
be  said  to  find  its  true  home  in  the  coniferous  forest  or  Canadian  belt, 
which  crosses  the  continent  diagonally  from  Maine  to  Alaska. 

Like  many  of  its  congeners  in  this  inhospitable  region,  it  nests  so 
early  in  the  springtime  that  the  winter's  frost  and  snow  are  still 
dominant  among  the  evergreens  when  the  eggs  come  to  claim  the  at- 
tention of  the  pair. 

Its  habits  at  this  season  are  but  little  known,  as  very  few  natural- 
ists have  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  it  in  its  native  pine  wood. 
But  in  midwinter,  when  it  comes  southward  in  search  of  food,  it  is  a 
well-known  frequenter,  in  flocks,  of  plantations  of  mountain-ash  trees, 
or  groups  of  sumach  bushes,  whose  unfallen  berries  provide  it  with  a 
bountiful  supply  of  nourishing  diet. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,  ETC. 


281 


It  is  said  to  make  an  admirable  cage-bird,  as  it  readily  takes  to 
confinement,  and  during  the  springtime  has  a  prolonged  and  melo- 
dious song. 

Its  form  has  a  general  resemblance  to  that  of  the  common  Robin, 
but  its  very  short,  thick  beak  and  its  forked  tail  are  striking  differ- 
ences. It  is  rather  slow  and  inactive  when  in  a  tree,  and  when  on  the 
wing  it  has  a  loud  whistle  which  is  very  characteristic ;  at  all  times 
its  colors,  as  above  described,  should  distinguish  the  bird  at  a  very 
considerable  distance.  Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

517.  Carpodacus  purpureus  {Gmel.).  Pueple  Finch.  Ad.  $. 
— Entire  body  suftused  with  rose-red,  strongest  on  the  head,  rump,  and  breast, 
more  brownish  on  the  back  ;  whiter,  gen- 
erally white,  on  the  belly ;  wings  and  tail 
brownish  fuscous,  the  outer  webs  of  the 
feathers  iinely  edged  with  rose-red ;  a 
small  tuft  of  bristly  feathers  over  the 
nostrils ;  outer  tail  -  feathers  longest. 
Ad.  9  . — Very  different,  sparrowlike  in 
appearance ;  upper  parts  dark  grayish 
brown,  finely  streaked  with  black  ;  wings 
and  tail  dark  grayish  brown ;  under 
parts  white,  streaked,  or  with  wedge- 
shaped  spots  of  fuscous.  L.,  6"22 ;  W,, 
3-24  ;  T.,  2-29  ;  B.,  -45. 

RemarJcs.  —  Females   bear  a  decided 
resemblance  to  some  Sparrows,  but  the 
rounded  bill,  tufts  of  feathers  over  the  nostrils,  and  forked  tail  are  distin- 
guishing characters. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Minnesota  and 
Long  Island  northward ;  winters  from  the  northern  States  to  the  Gulf 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  15  to  May  15,  largely  a  migrant.  Sing 
Sing,  rare  P.  R.,  common  T.  V.  Cambridge,  P.  K.,  very  common  from  Mch.  to 
Oct. ;  irregular,  but  sometimes  abundant,  in  winter. 

Nest,  of  twigs,  grasses,  and  rootlets,  thickly  lined  with  long  hairs,  in  conif- 
erous trees,  five  to  thirty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  blue,  spotted  about  the 
larger  end  with  fuscous,  '79  x  -56. 

During  the  nesting  season  the  Purple  Finch  frequently  takes  up 
its  abode  in  private  grounds,  even  becoming  a  familiar  garden  bird, 
while  others  of  its  race  find  a  congenial  home  in  wild  mountain  forests, 
far  away  from  the  society  of  man.  The  rosy  plumage  of  the  males 
makes  it  attractively  noticeable  as  a  garden  bird ;  but  a  serious  offense 
must  be  charged  against  it — it  has  far  too  ready  a  taste  for  the  blos- 
soms of  fruit  trees,  and  is  perhaps  the  most  confirmed  bud-eater  of 
all  our  birds.  It  has  naturally  a  roving  disposition,  and,  in  the  autumn 
especially,  seems  ever  to  be  impelled  by  some  restless  impulse.    At  this 


Fig.   79. 


-Purple  Finch, 
size.) 


(Natural 


282  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

season  it  may  often  be  seen  descending  with  airy,  sweeping  flight  into 
some  leafless  treetop,  as  if  from  a  far  aerial  journey,  its  identity  made 
known  by  its  very  characteristic  utterance,  a  short,  rather  dull-sound- 
ing note,  scarcely  metallic — the  metal  pressed  the  instant  the  bell  is 
struck. 

Although  the  Purple  Finch  often  essays  to  sing  in  the  autumn 
and  earliest  spring,  its  full  powers  of  voice  belong  alone  to  the  nuptial 
season.  Then  it  easily  takes  its  place  among  our  noteworthy  song 
birds.  Its  full  song  is  a  sweet-toned,  carelessly  flowing  warble — not 
too  brief  to  miss  definite  character  as  a  song,  and  positive  enough  in 
modulation  and  delivery  to  find  ready  place  in  the  memory.  At  times, 
indeed,  its  singing  is  of  a  character  not  to  be  easily  forgotten.  The 
song  bursts  forth  as  if  from  some  uncontrollable  stress  of  gladness, 
and  is  repeated  uninterruptedly  over  and  over  again,  while  the  ecstatic 
bird  rises  high  into  the  air,  and,  still  singing,  descends  into  the  trees. 

Eugene  P.  Bicknell. 

Pa/SSer  domesticus  {Linn.).  House  Sparrow;  English  Sparrow. 
Ad.  6  . — Crown  gray,  bordered  from  the  eye  backward  and  on  the  nape  by 
chestnut;  lesser  wing-coverts  chestnut,  middle  coverts  tipped  with  white; 
back  streaked  with  black  and  chestnut ;  rump  ashy ;  middle  of  the  throat  and 
breast  black;  sides  of  the  throat  white;  belly  whitish.  Ad.  9. — Head  and 
rump  grayish  brown ;  back  streaked  with  black  and  deep  ochraceous-buff ; 
under  parts  dirty  whitish,  the  breast  and  sides  washed  with  pale  grayish 
brown.    L.,  6-33  ;  W.,  3-01 ;  T.,  2-30 ;  B.,  -48. 

Range. — "  Nearly  the  whole  of  Europe,  but  replaced  in  Italy  by  P.  italice^ 
extending  eastward  to  Persia  and  Central  Asia,  India,  and  Ceylon"  (Sharpe;. 
Introduced  and  naturalized  in  America,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  etc. 

jVest,  of  any  available  material  in  any  available  place,  ^ggs^  var3dng  from 
plain  white  to  almost  uniform  olive-brown,  generally  white,  linely  and  evenly 
marked  with  olive,  1"86  x  -62. 

We  learn  from  Bulletin  No.  1  of  the  Division  of  Economic  Orni- 
thology and  Mammalogy  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture *  that  this  pest  w^as  first  introduced  into  the  United  States  at 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  in  1851  and  1852.  As  late  as  1870  it  was  largely 
foufined  to  the  cities  of  the  Atlantic  States,  but  since  that  date,  partly 
through  man's  agency  and  partly  through  the  bird's  rapid  increase  in 
numbers  and  adaptability,  it  has  spread  over  most  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada  east  of  the  great  plains,  and  isolated  colonies  are  estab- 
lished throughout  the  west. 

*  The  English  Sparrow  (Passer  domesticus)  in  North  America,  especially  in 
its  Relations  to  Agriculture.  Prepared  under  the  Direction  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Mer- 
riam,  Ornithologist,  by  Walter  B.  Barrows,  Assistant  Ornithologist,  Washington, 
1889. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  283 

This  report  shows  that  in  ten  years  the  progeny  of  a  single  pair  of 
Sparrows  might  amount  to  275,716,983,698  !  It  also  states  that  during 
the  year  1886  the  Sparrow  added  approximately  516,500  square  miles 
to  the  territory  occupied  by  it.  The  day  is  evidently  near  at  hand, 
therefore,  when  the  English  Sparrow  will  be  in  complete  possession  of 
the  country. 

The  European  Tree  Sparrow  {Passer  montamis)  has  become  naturalized 
in  and  about  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

521.  liOxia  curvirostra  minor  {Brehm).  American  Crossbill; 
Red  Crossbill.  Ad.  3.— Tips  of  the  mandibles  crossed;  body  dull  red, 
brighter  on  the  rump,  browner  on  the  back ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous.  Ad.  9  . 
Dull  olive-green,  yellower  on  the  rump,  indistinctly  mottled  with  blackish  on 
the  head  and  back,  mixed  with  whitish  on  the  under  parts.  Im.  3  . — Similar 
to  the  9  ,  or  mixed  red  and  green.     L.,  6-19  ;  W.,  3-40  ;  T.,  2-13  ;  B.,  -66. 

Range. — ^Breeds  from  the  Northern  States  northward,  and,  in  the  Allegha- 
nies,  southward  to  the  Carolinas ;  in  winter  wanders  ii-regularly  southward, 
sometimes  reaching  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  irregular  W.  V.,  sometimes  abundant.  Sing  Sing,  irregu- 
lar: noted  in  almost  every  month.  Cambridge,  of  irregular  occurrence  at  all 
seasons. 

J^est.,  of  twigs  and  grasses,  lined  with  bits  of  moss  and  rootlets,  in  conifer- 
ous trees,  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  "  pale  greenish,  spotted 
and  dotted  about  the  larger  end  with  various  shades  of  brown  and  lavender 
shell-markings,  1*Y5  x  -57." 

These  parrotlike  Finches  are  famous  for  their  erratic  wanderings. 
They  seem  to  have  no  regard  for  the  laws  of  migration  which  regu- 
late the  journeys  of  most  birds,  and,  having  no  home  ties,  may  linger 
in  regions  which  offer  them  abundant  fare  without  much  regard  to 
season.  They  nest  early  in  the  spring,  sometimes  when  they  are  far 
south  of  their  breeding  range,  but  they  seem  quite  unconcerned  by 
their  unusual  surroundings,  and  their  young  are  born  and  raised  in 
a  foreign  land. 

Coniferous  forests  form  their  natural  surroundings,  and  their  bills 
are  especially  adapted  to  aid  them  in  forcing  off  the  scales  from  the 
cones  of  these  trees  to  obtain  the  seed  within. 

They  live  in  flocks,  and  when  in  the  trees  climb  about  like  Parrots, 
sometimes  exhibiting  as  little  fear  of  man  as  Polly  on  her  pedestal. 
When  feeding,  they  have  a  short,  whistled  call-note  ;  they  take  wing  in 
a  body,  and  their  undulating  flight  is  accompanied  by  a  sharp  click- 
ing or  whistled  note.  Their  song  is  described  as  "  varied  and  pleas- 
ing, but  not  powerful  or  in  any  respect  remarkable." 

522.  LiOxia  leucoptera  Gmel.  White-winged  Crossbill.  Ad.  $. 
—Tips  of  the  mandibles  crossed  ;  body  dull  pink,  brighter  on  the  rump,  more 


284  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

or  less  marked  with  black  on  the  back  ;  belly  whitish  ;  wings  and  tail  black, 
the  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts,  and  sometimes  tertials,  tipped  with 
white.  Ad.  9  .—Dull  olive-green,  yellow  on  the  rump,  grayer  on  the  under 
parts,  mottled  with  blackish  on  the  head  and  back;  wings  and  tail  as  in 
the  $ .  Im.  $, . — Similar  to  ?  ,  but  passes  through  a  party-colored  plumage 
while  becoming  mature,  and,  as  in  the  preceding  species,  is  subject  to  much 
variation.     L.,  6-05 ;  W.,  3-27  ;  T.,  2-41 ;  B.,  -62. 

^a«_^«.— Breeds  from  the  Northern  States  northward ;  in  winter  wanders 
irregularly  southward,  sometimes  reaching  Illinois  and  Virginia. 

Washington,  casual.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Oct.  29  to  Dec.  6.  Cambridge, 
irregular  W.  V. 

Nest.,  of  twigs  and  strips  of  birch  bark,  covered  exteriorly  with  moss 
(  Usnea).,  and  lined  with  soft  moss  and  hair,  on  the  fork  of  an  evergreen  in 
deep  forests.  Eggs,  three  (?),  pale  blue,  spotted  and  streaked  near  larger  end 
with  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  -80  x  -55  (Chamberlain). 

Colonel  Gross  writes  that  in  general  habits  these  birds  resemble  the 
American  Crossbill,  Their  flight  is  swift  and  undulating.  While 
feeding  and  moving  about  they  are  quite  noisy,  almost  constantly 
uttering  a  plaintive  wheep  or  cheeping  note.  Their  song  is  low,  soft, 
and  sweet,  much  like  that  of  the  American  Goldfinch. 

527*  Acanthishomeinaniiii(//i9/6.).  Greenland  Eedpoll. — Simi- 
lar to  the  next,  but  "larger  (length  about  5-50-6-50),  with  proportionally 
tliicker  and  less  acute  bill.  $  W.,  3-37  ;  T.,  2-75 ;  exposed  culmen,  -35 ;  depth 
of  B.  at  base,  -31." 

Range. — ■"■  Northern  Greenland  (breeding  from  69°-73°  N.  latitude)  and 
eastern  arctic  America,  south  to  Labrador  in  winter"  (Kidgw.). 

527a.  A.  h.  exilipes  {Coves).  Hoary  Eedpoll.  Ad.  3  .—Bill  very 
sharply  pointed,  a  small  tuft  of  bristly  feathers  over  the  nostrils ;  crown-cap 
bright  red ;  back  dark  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  more  or  less  margined  with 
white ;  rump  white,  generally  unstreaked,  and  tinged  with  pink ;  wings  and 
tail  brownish  fuscous,  the  feathers  all  more  or  less  edged  with  white ;  middle 
of  the  throat  blackish,  breast  tinged  with  pink,  belly  white,  a  few  streaks  on 
the  side.  Ad.  ?  . — Similar,  but  with  no  pink  on  the  rump  or  breast.  Im.— 
Similar  to  the  9,  but  without  the  red  crown-cap.  L.,  5-00;  W.,  3-00;  T., 
2-30 ;  B.,  -30. 

Bemarhs. — This  species  Ls  to  be  distinguished  from  Acanthis  linaria  and 
its  races  by  the  greater  amount  of  white  in  its  plumage,  its  unstreaked  rump, 
and  comparatively  unstreaked  under  parts. 

Range.  —Arctic  regions ;  south  in  winter  rarely  to  the  northern  United 
States. 

Cambridge,  casual  W.  V. 

Nest.,  of  grass  and  twigs  lined  with  feathers,  in  a  low  tree  or  on  the 
ground.  Eggs.,  three  to  five,  white,  tinged  with  blue  or  green,  spotted  with 
reddish  brown,  -65  x  -50  (Chamberlain). 

528.  Acanthis  linaria  {Linn.).  Redpoll.  Ad.  3. — Bill  very 
sharply  pointed,  a  small  tuft  of  bristly  feathers  over  the  nostrils ;  crown-cap 


FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC.  285 

bright  red ;  back  fuscous  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  margined  with  ochra- 
ceous-buff ;  rump  tinged  with  pink  ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous,  the  feathers  more 
or  less  edged  with  whitish  ;  middle  of  the  throat  blackish,  breast  suffused  with 
pink,  belly  white,  sides  streaked  with  fuscous. 
Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  without  pink  on  the  rump 
or  breast,  the  sides  more  heavily  streaked.  Im. 
— Similar  to  the  $ ,  but  without  a  red  crown- 
cap.  L.,  5-32  ;  W.,  2-80 ;  T.,  2-32 ;  B.,  -36  ;  depth 
of  B.  at  base,  '22. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  northern  parts  of 
the  northern  hemisphere ;  in  winter  migrates 
irregularly  southward,  in  America,  to  Illinois 
and  Virginia. 

Washington,  very  rare  and  irregular  W.  V.     ^ig.  80.— Redpoll.    (Natural 
Sing  Sing,  irregular  W.  V.,  Nov.  25  to  Mch. 
26.     Cambridge,  irregular  W.  V.,  often  very  abundant,  Oct.  25  to  Apl.  10. 

Nest.!  of  dry  grass  and  moss  lined  with  hair,  feathers,  or  plant  down,  in  a 
low  tree  or  tuft  of  grass.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  white,  tinged  with  green  or  blue, 
spotted  with  reddish  brown,  '65  x  -50  (Chamberlain). 

The  little  Redpoll  is  one  of  those  birds  that  are  best  known  as  win- 
ter visitors.  Sometimes  it  comes  from  the  north  in  flocks  when  driven 
from  home  by  the  annual  failure  of  the  food  supply,  and  speedily  at- 
tracts attention  by  frequenting  the  gardens  and  orchards,  even  when 
these  are  within  the  limits  of  a  town.  In  general  habits  it  resembles 
a  Goldfinch,  and  while  with  us  it  finds  its  wants  supplied  chiefly  by 
the  various  grasses  and  herbs  which  project  through  the  snow  and 
still  retain  their  seed  in  spite  of  wind  and  weather.  It  is  noted  for  its 
affectionate  and  confiding  disposition,  and  although  it  is  not  known 
to  breed  in  captivity  it  has  always  proved  an  easily  tamed  and  inter- 
esting pet.  Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

528a.   A.  1.  holboellii  {BreJim).     Holbcell's  Kedpoll. — Similar  to 

A.  linaria,  but  larger,  the  bill  longer.     W.,  3-20  ;  T.,  2-35 ;  B.,  -38 ;  depth  of 

B.  at  base,  -22. 

Range.— '■'■  Northern  coasts  of  Europe  and  Asia  (Norway  to  Japan),  and 
portions  of  Alaska";  casual  in  eastern  North  America. 

This  is  an  intermediate  between  A.  linaria  and  A.  I.  rostrata,  most 
closely  approaching  the  former,  from  which  it  sometimes  can  with 
difficulty  be  distinguished.  It  is  an  exceedingly  rare  bird  in  eastern 
North  America,  where  there  are  but  tw0  records  of  its  occurrence : 
Quebec  (Ridgway)  and  Massachusetts  (Brewster). 

538b.  A.  1.  rostrata  (Coues).  Greater  Redpoll. — Similar  to  A. 
linaria^  but  larger,  the  margin  to  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  averaging 
darker,  the  bill  shorter  and  stouter.  L.,  5-50;  W.,  3-20;  T.,  2-55;  B.,  -35; 
depth  of  B.  at  base,  -28. 


286  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

Range. — "  Southern  Greenland  in  sunnner,  migrating  south,  in  winter, 
through  Labrador  to  (sparingly)  the  northern  border  of  the  United  States 
(New  England,  lower  Hudson  Valley,  northern  Illinois,  etc.),  and  west  to 
Manitoba"  (Kidgw.). 

Sing  Sing,  A.  V.     Cambridge,  irregular  W.  V.,  Nov.  to  Feb. 

"  The  Greater  Redpoll  is  often  rather  common,  and  in  February, 
1883,  it  occurred  along  the  seacoast  near  Boston  in  positive  abundance. 
On  the  19th  of  this  month  Mr.  Spelman  and  I  took  thirteen  specimens 
at  Revere  Beach  in  about  two  hours;  and  on  the  22d,  at  Nantasket 
Beach,  two  young  collectors,  by  a  few  random  shots  into  an  excep- 
tionally large,  mixed  flock  of  Redpolls,  secured  forty  specimens,  of 
which  six  proved  to  be  J.,  linaria  and  thirty-four  rostrata. 

"  As  one  sees  them  in  winter  in  New  England,  the  forms  just  men- 
tioned, with  A.  hornema7inii  exilipes,  do  not  differ  appreciably  in 
notes,  habits,  or  general  appearance.  It  is  true  that  A.  I.  rostrata 
may  be  often  recognized  by  its  superior  size,  but  the  birds  as  a  rule 
are  so  nervous  and  restless,  and  when  in  large  flocks  so  constantly  in 
motion  and  so  likely  to  depart  altogether  at  any  moment,  that  a  free 
use  of  the  gun  is  ordinarily  indispensable  to  positive  identiflcation  " 
(Brewster,  Minot's  Land  Birds  and  Game  Birds,  2d  ed.,  App.,  p.  472). 

529.  Spinus  tristis  {Linn.).  American  Goldfinch;  Yellow- 
bird  ;  Thistle-bird.  Ad.  <5 . — Crown-cap  black ;  back  and  under  parts 
bright  yellow ;  wings  black,  the  coverts  and  secondaries  tipped  with  white ; 
tail  black,  the  feathers  with  white  on  their  inner  webs.  Ad.  9  . — Upper 
parts  grayish  brown  with  an  olive  tinge ;  wings  and  tail  as  in  the  6  ,  but 
somewhat  more  dusky  and  the  white  markings  less  distinct ;  under  parts 
whitish,  washed  with  huffy  brown  and  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow,  espe- 
cially on  the  throat.  Ad.  $  in  lointer.—^imildir  to  the  ad.  9  ,  but  with  the 
wings  and  tail  as  in  summer.     L.,  5-10 ;  W.,  2-82 ;  T.,  1-95  ;  B.,  -40. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  South  Carolina  to  southern 
Labrador ;  winters  from  the  northern  United  States  to  the  Gulf. 

Washington,  common  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  E.  Cambridge,  very 
common  P.  E. 

ISfest^  externally  of  fine  grasses,  strips  of  bark,  and  moss,  thickly  lined 
with  thistle  down,  in  trees  or  bushes,  live  to  thirty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three  to 
six,  pale  bluish  white,  -65  x  -48. 

Except  when  nesting.  Goldfinches  are  generally  found  in  small 
flocks.  Few  birds  seem  to  enjoy  life  more  than  these  merry  rovers. 
Every  month  brings  them  a  change  of  fare,  and  in  pursuit  of  fresh 
dainties  the  nesting-time  is  delayed  almost  until  summer  begins  to  wane. 

Seed-bearing  plants,  whether  in  field  or  garden,  form  their  larder ; 
the  old  sunflowers  rattle  before  their  vigorous  attack ;  the  thistles 
spring  into  sudden  blossom  of  black  and  gold  as  they  swing  from  the 
nodding  heads. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  287 

Their  flight  is  expressive  of  their  joyous  nature,  and  as  they  bound 
through  the  air  they  hum  a  gay 


Their  love  song  is  delivered  with  an  ecstasy  and  abandon  which  car- 
ries them  off  their  feet,  and  they  circle  over  the  fields  sowing  the  air 
with  music.  The  song  has  a  canarylike  character,  and  while  it  is  less 
varied  it  possesses  a  wild,  ringing  quality  wanting  in  the  cage-bound 
bird's  best  efforts. 

The  Black-hkaded  Goldfinch  {582.  Spinus  notatus).,  a  Mexican  species, 
is  recorded  by  Audubon  from  Kentucky,  where  its  occurrence  is,  of  course, 
purely  accidental. 

533.  Spinus  piuvis  (  Wils.).  Pine  Siskin  ;  Pine  Finch.  Ad.— E'lW 
sharply  pointed,  a  small  tuft  of  bristly  feathers  over  the  nostrils ;  upper  parts 
streaked  with  black,  the  feathers  margined  with  bufl'y ;  wings  fuscous,  most 
of  the  feathers  margined  with  yellow,  and  yellow  at  the  base  /  tail  fuscous, 
all  but  the  middle  feathers  yellow  at  the  base  ,•  under  parts  white,  tinged  with 
bufiy  and  heavily  streaked  with  black.     L.,  5-00  ;  W.,  2-76  ;  T.,  1-90 ;  B.,  -40. 

Eemarlcs. — The  yellow  markings  in  the  wings  and  tail  of  this  species  will 
always  serve  to  distinguish  it. 

Range. — North  America  generally;  breeds  mostly  north  of  the  United 
States ;  winters  as  far  south  as  the  Gulf. 

Washington,  irregularly  abundant  W.  V.,  Oct.  to  Apl.  Sing  Sing,  irregu- 
lar P.  E.  Cambridge,  irregular  W.  V.,  Sept.  to  May ;  sometimes  very  abun- 
dant. 

Nest.,  of  twigs  and  rootlets,  lined  with  plant  down  and  long  hairs,  in  conif- 
erous trees.  Eggs.,  four,  pale  bluish  white,  thinly  spotted  with  reddish  brown, 
•67  X  -46. 

Like  the  American  Crossbill,  this  bird  is  rather  erratic  in  its  move- 
ments, and  its  presence  or  absence  at  any  season  can  never  be  predicted 
with  certainty.  It  resembles  the  American  Goldfinch  in  habits,  but  is 
more  often  found  about  coniferous  trees,  and  its  notes  and  song  are 
less  musical.  It  has  been  found  nesting  in  May  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y. 
(Fisher),  and  at  Cornwall-on-Hudson  (Allen). 

Carduelis  carduelis  {Linn.).  European  Goldfinch.  Ad. — Region 
about  the  base  of  the  bill  bright  red ;  crown,  and  a  stripe  extending  from  it 
on  to  the  sides  of  the  neck,  black;  back  cinnamon-brown;  wings  black, 
crossed  by  a  broad  yellow  band ;  tail  black,  the  inner  webs  of  the  feathers 
tipped  with  white  ;  under  parts  white,  the  sides  tinged  with  the  color  of  the 
back.     L.,  5-50  ;  W.,  3-00  ;  T.,  2-95  ;  B.,  -50. 


288  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

Bange. — "  Europe  generally,  except  extreme  northern  part"  (Sharpe).  In- 
troduced near  New  York  city  and  Boston. 

Nest^  externally,  of  grasses  and  plant  down,  lined  with  plant  down,  in 
coniferous  trees.     Eggs,  four  to  live,  white,  with  purplish  spots,  -72  x  -50. 

This  European  species  was  introduced  into  this  country  at  Ho- 
boken,  N.  J.,  in  1878.  The  following  year  it  appeared  in  Central 
Park,  New  York  city.  It  has  since  spread  over  the  northern  parts 
of  the  city,  and  in  favorable  places  is  a  not  uncommon  permanent 
resident.  It  has  also  been  introduced  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  Mass., 
where  it  is  to  be  found  in  small  numbers.  In  general  habits  it  resem- 
bles its  American  cousin,  with  which  it  sometimes  associates. 

534.  Plectrophenaz  nivalis  {Linn.).  Snowflake;  Snow  Bunt- 
ing. Ad.  $  in  summer. — Whole  head  and  neck,  rump,  and  under  parts  white ; 
back  and  scapulars  black ;  wings  white,  the  end  half  of  the  primaries  and 
inner  secondaries  black ;  outer  tail-feathers  white,  inner  ones  black.  Ad.  $ 
in  summer. — Similar,  but  entire  upper  parts  streaked  with  black ;  primaries 
all  fuscous ;  secondaries  more  or  less  tipped  with  fuscous.  $  in  winter. — 
Upper  parts  a  kind  of  rusty  brown,  almost  umber  on  the  center  of  the  crown ; 
back  streaked  with  black,  caused  by  the  black  bases  of  the  feathers  showing 
through  their  rusty  tips ;  wings  and  tail  much  as  in  summer,  but  more  or  less 
edged  with  rusty ;  under  parts  white,  the  breast  and  sides  washed  with  rusty. 
9  in  winter. — Similar  to  $  ,  but  the  primaries  all  fuscous.  L.,  6'88 ;  W.,  4*07  ; 
T.,  2-70 ;  B.,  -42. 

Bange. — "  Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  breeding  in  the 
arctic  regions ;  in  North  America,  south  in  winter  into  the  northern  United 
States,  irregularly  to  Georgia,  southern  Illinois,  and  Kansas." 

Washington,  W.  V.,  casual,  one  instance.  Sing  Sing,  irregular  W.  V.,  Oct. 
25  to  Mch.  22.  Cambridge,  common  W.  V.,  Oct.  25  to  Mch.  25 ;  abundant  in 
migrations. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  rootlets,  and  moss,  lined  with  finer  grasses  and  feathers, 
on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  seven,  pale  bluish  white,  thinly  marked  with 
umber  or  heavily  spotted  or  washed  with  rufous-brown,  -85  x  -64. 

.  The  Snowflake  may  readily  be  known  by  the  fact  that  it  is  the  only 
one  of  our  sparrowlike  birds  that  has  white  predominating  on  its 
wings  and  tail,  as  well  as  on  its  body.  It  feeds  exclusively  on  seeds, 
and  is  so  much  like  the  Shorelark  in  habits  that  the  two  species  occa- 
sionally associate.  The  Snowflake  is  also  strictly  a  ground  bird,  never 
perching  on  a  tree,  though  it  often  does  so  on  a  house  or  fence.  It 
always  progresses  by  walking,  not  by  hopping. 

Throughout  Canada  and  the  northern  tier  of  States  this  is  the 
familiar  little  white  bird  of  winter.  As  soon  as  the  chill  season  comes 
on  in  icy  rigors,  the  merry  Snowfiakes  appear  in  great  flocks,  and  come 
foraging  about  the  barnyards  when  there  is  no  bare  ground  left  in  the 
adjacent  fields.  Apparently  they  get  but  little  to  eat,  but  in  reality 
they  always  find  enough  to  keep  them  in  health  and  spirits,  and  are  as 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  289 

fat  as  butter  balls.  In  midwinter,  in  the  far  north,  when  the  ther- 
mometer showed  thirty  degrees  below  zero,  and  the  chill  blizzard  was 
blowing  on  ■  the  plains,  I  have  seen  this  brave  little  bird  gleefully- 
chasing  his  fellows,  and  pouring  out  as  he  flew  his  sweet,  voluble  song 
with  as  much  spirit  as  ever  Skylark  has  in  the  sunniest  days  of  June. 
As  long  as  the  snow  lasts  the  Snowflake  stays,  and  as  soon  as  the 
ground  grows  bare  and  there  is  promise  of  better  days,  this  bird  of 
winter  betakes  himself  again  to  the  north,  as  far  as  ever  human  foot 
has  been,  and  there  builds  his  nest.  Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

536.  Calcarius  lapponicus  {Linn.).  Lapland  Longspub.  Ad.  $ 
in  summer. — Hind  toe-nail  as  long  as  or  longer  than  toe  ;  head,  neck,  tliroat, 
and  breast  black ;  a  buffy  line  behind  the  eye ;  nape  rufous ;  back  streaked 
with  black  and  ochraceous-  and  cream -butf;  tail 

fuscous,  the  two  outer  feathers  with  more  or  less 

white ;  belly  white ;    sides  streaked  with  black. 

Ad.  ?  in  summer. — Upper  parts   streaked  with 

black,  rufoiis,  ochraceous-  and  cream-buff;  nape 

ochraceous-buff,  the   color   sometimes   concealed 

by  the  tips  of  the  feathers ;  tail  fuscous,  the  outer 

one  or  two  feathers  marked  with  white ;   under 

parts  white,  the  breast  and  sides  streaked  with    „       „,     -r-r.   ^  ^ 
f,     ,  '  T  ,     ,^  .        .  ^.    .     Fig.  81.— Hind  toe  of  Lap- 

black  and  ochraceous- bun.      $  %n  winter. — fenni-  land  Longspur. 

lar  to  9  in  summer,  but  upper  parts  blacker,  nape 

more  rufous,  breast  more  heavily  marked  with  black,  most  of  the  feathers 

black  at  the  base.    ?  in  winter. — Similar  to  ?  in  summer,  but  upper  parts  duller, 

nape  with  little  or  no  ochraceous.     L.,  6-25 :  W.,  3-75 ;  T.,  2-55 ;  B.,  -40. 

Remarhs. — In  some  plumages  this  bird  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  cer- 
tain Sparrows,  but  differs  from  them  in  having  the  hind  toe-nail  as  long  as  or 
longer  than  the  toe. 

Range. — "  Northern  portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  breeding  far 
north ;  in  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  the  northern  United  States, 
irregularly  to  the  Middle  States,  accidentally  to  South  Carolina." 

Washington,  W.  V.,  casual,  one  instance,  Dec.     Sing  Sing,  W.  V.,  casual. 

Nest.,  of  grasses  and  moss  lined  with  grasses,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four 
to  six,  bluish  white,  almost  obscured  by  a  uniform  grayish  brown,  -82  x  -60. 

In  the  east  Lapland  Longspurs  are  generally  found  among  flocks 
of  Shorelarks  or  Snowflakes,  but  on  the  western  plains  they  occur  in 
great  numbers.  "  High  in  the  air  they  fly  in  long,  straggling  flocks, 
all  singing  together;  a  thousand  voices,  a  tornado  of  whistling.  .  .  . 
When  in  the  fields  they  have  a  curious  habit  of  squatting  just  behind 
some  clod,  and,  as  their  colors  are  nearly  matched  to  the  soil,  they  are 
not  easily  observed,  nor  will  they  move  until  you  are  within  a  few 
feet ;  they  then  run  a  few  feet  and  squat  again.  .  .  ."  (Thompson). 

537.  Calcarius  pictus  (AS"wai/iS.).  Smith's  Longspur.  Ad.  $  in  sum- 
mer.— ^Top  and  sides  of  the  head  black,  a  line  over  the  eye  and  the  ear-coverts 

20 


290  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

white ;  back  and  rump  streaked  with  black  and  ochraceous-bufl";  lesser  wing- 
coverts  black,  broadly  tipped  with  white ;  tail  fuscous,  the  two  outer  feathers 
mostly  white ;  nape  and  under  parts  ochraceous-buff.  Ad.  $  in  summer. — 
Upper  parts  black,  the  feathers  margined  and  tipped  with  pale  cream-buff; 
two  outer  tail-feathers  mostly  white;  under  parts  pale  cream- buff';  breast  and 
sides  sometimes  lightly  streaked  with  blackish.  $  in  winter. — Similar  to  $ 
in  summer,  but  with  the  lesser  wing-coverts  black,  tipped  with  white.  L., 
6-60;  W.,  3-75;  T.,  2-50;  B., -42. 

Bange. — Interior  of  arctic  America  (chiefly  Mackenzie  River  Valley)  in 
summer,  breeding  north  to  the  arctic  coast  and  upper  Yukon  Valley ;  south, 
in  winter,  over  the  Great  Plains  and  prairies  to  Illinois,  Texas,  etc. 

Nesting.,  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding. 

"  Their  habits  are  quite  similar  to  those  of  P.  lapponicus  while 
upon  the  ground.  .  .  .  When  flushed  they  invariably  uttered  a  sharp 
clicking  note,  rapidly  repeated  several  times.  When  driven  from  their 
feeding  place  by  my  approach  they  would  rise  in  a  loose  flock,  and, 
after  wheeling  about  a  few  times,  start  off  in  a  direct  line,  gradually 
rising  higher  until  they  disappeared.  After  a  short  time  their  pecul- 
iar note  would  be  heard,  and,  darting  down  from  a  considerable  height, 
they  would  alight  near  the  place  from  which  they  were  driven " 
(Nelson). 

The  Chestnut-collared  Longspur  {538.  Calcarius  ornatus).,  a  species  of 
the  Great  Plains,  has  been  recorded  from  Massachusetts  and  Long  Island. 

McCown's  Longspur  {539.  Rhynchophanes  mccownii).,  a  species  of  the 
Great  Plains  of  the  interior,  is  of  casual  occurrence  in  Illinois. 

540.  PoocSBtes  gramineus  ( Gmel.).  Vesper  Sparrow  ;  Bay- 
winged  Bunting  ;  Grass  Finch,  ^ci^.-— Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  streaked 
with  black  and  a  little  ochraceous-buff;  wings  fuscous,  greater  and  middle 

coverts    tipped    with    white, 
^^^^-..»______^^  lesser  coverts  bright  rufous ; 

Memarhs. — The  white  tail- 
feathers     and     rufous     lesser 


Fig.  82.— Tail-feathers  of  Vesper  Sparrow. 


wing-coverts  will  always  distinguish  this  species  from  any  of  our  Sparrows. 

Range.— ^orth.  America;  breeds  from  southern  Illinois  and  Virginia 
northward  to  New  Brunswick  and  Manitoba ;  winters  on  the  Atlantic  coast 
from  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  P.  P.,  very  common  in  migrations,  less  so  in  summer  and 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.      •  291 

winter.     Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  2  to  Nov.  4.     Cambridge, 
very  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  5  to  Oct.  15. 

JVest^  of  rather  coarse  grass,  lined  with  finer  grasses,  rootlets,  and  long 
hairs,  on  the  ground.  Eggfs,  four  to  five,  bluish  white  or  pinkish  white, 
speckled  and  spotted  with  rufous-brown  or  umber,  1-83  x  -61. 

In  walking  through  dry  upland  fields  or  along  dusty  roadsides  a 
rather  pale,  streaked  Sparrow  will  sometimes  run  rapidly  ahead  of 
you,  wait  for  you  to  catch  up,  then  riin  ahead  again.  It  is  best  to  be 
content  with  what  measure  of  his  confidence  and  society  he  voluntarily 
grants  you,  for,  if  you  quicken  your  steps  and  try  to  overtake  him,  he 
will  rise  and  bound  on  before  you  or  swing  off  to  one  side,  showing,  as 
he  flies,  the  white  feathers  on  either  side  of  his  tail. 

Frequently  he  will  alight  on  a  fence  rail  or  even  the  higher  branch 
of  a  tree,  for,  although  a  field  Sparrow,  he  is  by  no  means  a  purely  ter- 
restrial one.  When  singing,  he  generally  selects  an  elevated  perch  and 
gives  himself  entirely  to  his  musical  devotions.  Early  morning  and 
late  afternoon  are  his  favorite  hours,  but  he  can  be  heard  at  other 
times.  His  song,  which  is  loud,  clear,  and  ringing,  may  be  heard  at 
a  distance  of  several  hundred  yards.  It  resembles  that  of  the  Song 
Sparrow,  but  is  sweeter  and  more  plaintive.  When  heard  in  the  even- 
ing it  is  a  truly  inspired  and  inspiring  melody. 

541.  Axmuodramus  princeps  {Mayn.).  Ipswich  Sparrow.  Ad. — 
Generally  with  a  spot  of  sulphur-yellow  before  the  eye  and  on  the  bend  of 
the  wing ;  upper  parts  pale  brownish  ashy,  streaked  on  the  head,  back,  and 
upper  tail-coverts  with  black  and  cinnamon-brown ;  the  nape  and  rump  with 
few  or  no  streaks;  a  white  line  over  the  eye;  wings  grayish  brown,  outer 
webs  of  greater  coverts  and  tertials  margined  with  pale  ochraceous-buff;  tail 
grayish  brown,  the  outer  webs  of  the  feathers  margined  with  brownish  ashy; 
under  parts  white ;  breast  and  sides  lightly  streaked  with  blackish  and 
ochraceous-butf.    L.,  6-25 ;  W.,  3-00 ;  T.,  2-25 ;  B.,  -40. 

Range. — Breeds  on  Sable  Island  ;  winters  southward  along  the  coast  regu- 
larly to  Virginia  and  rarely  to  Georgia. 

Cambridge,  casual,  one  instance,  Oct. 

Those  who  care  to  visit  in  winter  the  bleak,  wind-swept  sand 
hillocks  of  our  Atlantic  coast  will  find  this  bird  much  less  rare  than 
it  was  once  supposed  to  be.  It  never  strays  far  from  the  waving  tufts 
of  coarse  beach-grass  that  scantily  cover  the  sand  drifts,  and  single  in- 
dividuals may  be  found  skulking  among  such  surroundings.  They 
seldom  allow  a  near  approach,  but  fly  wildly  away  to  considerable  dis- 
tances, and  on  alighting  run  off  so  rapidly  that  they  are  difficult  to 
find  a  second  time.  The  flight  is  rapid  and  irregular,  and  the  birds 
may  easily  be  mistaken  for  Savanna  Sparrows,  with  which,  during  the 
migrations,  they  are  sometimes  associated.  On  rare  occasions  a  sharp 
chirp  is  heard,  but  as  a  rule  they  are  silent. 


292  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

It  is  an  interesting  species,  discovered  in  1868,  and  at  first  mistaken 
for  Baird's  Sparrow  of  the  far  west,  a  species,  by  the  way,  that  it  re- 
sembles very  little.  For  many  years  nothing  was  known  of  its  breed- 
ing range.  In  1884  some  large  eggs  from  Sable  Island,  Nova  Scotia, 
supposed  to  be.of  the  Savanna  Sparrow,  were  unearthed  at  the  National 
Museum,  Washington,  and  later  a  summer  specimen  of  the  Ipswich 
Sparrow  was  obtained  from  this  island.  Ten  years  later  I  had  ihe 
pleasure  of  visiting  Sable  Island  and  solving  all  the  conjectures  that 
had  become  current  regarding  the  Ipswich  Sparrow's  summer  home. 
The  bird  proved  to  much  resemble  the  Savanna  Sparrow  in  breeding 
habits,  song,  nest,  and  eggs.  J.  Dwight,  Jr. 

542a.  Ammodramus  sandwichensis  savanna  (  WUs.).  Sa- 
vanna Sparrow.  Ad. — A  pale  yellow  mark  over  or  before  the  eye  and  on 
the  bend  of  the  wing ;  general  tone  of  the  upper  parts  brownish  black,  the 
ceaters  of  the  feathers  black,  margined  first  by  rufous  or  ochraceous-buff",  then 
by  ashy ;  wings  fuscous,  the  outer  webs  of  the  feathers  margined  with  ochra- 
ceous-butf ;  tail  fuscous,  the  outer  web  of  the  feathers  margined  with  whit- 
ish ;  under  parts  white,  heavily  streaked  with  blackish  and  rufous,  the  breast 
feathers  tipped  with  wedge-shaped  marks.    L.,5-68;  W.,2-62;  T.,  2-09;  B,,-40. 

Remarks. — Fall  specimens  are  more  or  less  suffused  with  ochraceous. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Missouri  and  northern 
New  Jersey  north  to  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay  ;  and  winters  from  southern 
Illinois  and  Virginia  southward  to  Cuba  and  Mexico. 

"Washington,  abundant  T.  V.,  Mch.  20  to  May  5;  Oct.  14  to  Nov.  15;  a 
few  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  3  to  May  13 ;  Aug.  28  to  Oct.  28. 
Cambridge,  abundant  T.  V.,  Apl. ;  Oct. ;  breeds  sparingly. 

Nest.,  of  grasses  and  sometimes  moss,  lined  with  finer  grasses  or  hair,  on 
the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  bluish  white,  thickly  marked,  sometimes 
heavily  washed,  with  reddish  brown  or  cinnamon,  -78  x  -56. 

This  is  essentially  a  bird  of  the  fields  and  one  of  the  most  abun- 
dant species  of  the  Maritime  Provinces  of  Canada — in  fact,  character- 
istic of  them.  The  roadsides  abound  with  the  birds  bobbing  up  and 
down  on  the  fence  posts  and  chipping  vigorously  at  every  passer- 
by. Their  boldness  is  tempered  with  a  certain  timidity  that  becomes 
apparent  when  they  are  followed,  for,  dropping  into  the  grass,  they  will 
slip  away  with  surprising  rapidity.  They  have  a  startling  way,  some- 
times, of  springing  up  with  a  whirr  of  wings  almost  from  under  your 
very  feet  as  you  cross  the  fields  where  they  have  been  feeding.  At 
the  southern  limits  of  their  breeding  range  they  gather  into  irregularly 
distributed,  isolated  colonies  frequenting  wet,  boggy  meadows,  and  ex- 
hibit a  shyness  that  is  not  shared  by  their  northern  brethren.  In  tlie 
fall,  young  and  old  gather  into  bands  and,  joining  with  other  species, 
form  an  important  part  of  the  large  flocks  of  migrating  Sparrows  that 
fill  the  fields  and  hedgerows. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  293 

The  song  is  insignificant — a  weak,  musical  little  trill  following  a 
grasshopperlike  introduction  is  of  such  small  volume  that  it  can  be 
heard  but  a  few  rods.  It  usually  resembles  tsip-tsip-tslp^  se' e-e-s^r-r-r. 
More  singing  is  heard  toward  sunset,  when  of  a  quiet  evening  the 
trills  are  audible  at  greater  distances.  Each  male  seems  to  have  a 
number  of  favorite  perches.  Weeds  or  fence  posts,  which  are  visited  as 
inclination  dictates,  but  he  is  of  too  restless  a  disposition  to  remain 
long  on  any  of  them.  The  most  familiar  note  is  a  sharp  tsip  of  alarm 
or  expostulation  heard  during  migration,  but  so  constantly  employed 
by  both  sexes  in  the  breeding  season,  even  on  slight  provocation,  that 
one  gets  to  think  of  them  as  veritable  scolds. 

They  are  more  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  the  Vesper  Sparrow,  which 
they  resemble  even  in  flight,  than  for  any  other  except  perhaps  the 
Ipswich  and  Sharp-tailed  Sparrows.  J.  Dwight,  Jr. 

546.  Anunodramus  savannaruxu  passerinus  (  Wils.).    Gkass- 
HOPPER   Sparrow  ;    Yellow-"winged    Sparrow.      Ad. — Upper  parts   mixed 
black,  rufous-brown,  ashy,  and  eream-butf ;  crown  blackish,  a  cream-buff 
line  through  its  center ;  nape  rufous-brown, 
each  feather  with  a  small  black   central 
spot  and  bordered  by  ashy ;  back  black, 
the  feathers  bordered  by  cream-buff  and 
with  a  small  central  tip  of  rufous-brown ; 
rump  rufous- brown  and  ashy ;  an  orange 
mark  before  the  eye ;  bend  of  the  wing 
yellow,  lesser  wing-coverts  yellowish  olive-       ^'°-  ^^-'^^p^irrow'^""^"^''^'" 
green  ;  greater  coverts  tipped  with  whit- 
ish ;  tail-feathers  pointed,  of  about  equal  length,  dark  grayish  brown,  the 
centers  of  the  feathers  darker,  the  end  half  of  the  outer  feather  generally 
dusky  whitish  ;  under  parts  generally  not  streaked  ;  breast  and  sides  butfy  ; 
belly  white.     Young  in  first  plumage  have  the  breast  spotted  with  blackish. 
L.,  5-38  ;  W.,  2-38  ;  T.,  1-79  ;  B.,  -43. 

Bemarlcs. — The  yellow  on  the  wing,  unstreaked  under  parts,  even,  pointed 
tail,  and  grayish  mark  on  the  outer  tail-feather  are  the  principal  characters  of 
this  species. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  northward 
to  Massachusetts  and  Minnesota ;  winters  from  North  Carolina  to  Cuba. 

Washington,  very  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  15  to  Oct.  25.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  E.,  Apl.  27  to  Oct.  23.     Cambridge,  rare  S.  E.,  May  15  to  (?). 

Nest^  of  grasses,  sometimes  lined  with  hairs,  on  the  ground.     Eggs.,  four  to 
five,  white,  distinctly  spotted  and  speckled  with  rufous,  '73  x  -54:. 

Few  common  birds  may  be  more  easily  overlooked  than  the  Yellow- 
winged  Sparrow.  Its  terrestrial  habits  and  weak  notes  place  it  among 
the  birds  that  you  are  not  likely  to  find  unless  you  know  how  and 
where  to  look  for  them.  I  remember  once  introducing  this  bird  and 
its  song  to  a  visiting  ornithological  friend.     On  returning  to  his  home, 


294  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

greatly  to  his  surprise,  he  found  it  a  common  resident  of  the  fields 
about  his  house,  where,  owing  to  his  unfamiliarity  with  its  notes  and 
habits,  its  presence  had  been  before  unsuspected. 

In  the  north  you  will  generally  find  it  in  old,  dry  daisy  or  sorrel 
fields;  in  the  south  it  inhabits  the  broom  sedge.  It  will  not  take 
wing  until  almost  stepped  upon ;  then,  if  bushes  are  near,  it  takes 
refuge  in  or  under  them,  but  out  in  the  open  field  it  flies  rapidly 
some  distance  and  drops  to  the  ground. 

Its  usual  perch,  when  singing,  is  a  fence  rail;  and  it  does  not 
often  seek  a  more  elevated  position.  Its  fine,  insectlike  notes  give 
it  the  name  of  Grasshopper  Sparrow.  They  may  be  written  pit-tuck, 
2ee-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e.  Under  favorable  circumstances  they  can  be  heard 
by  an  attentive  listener  at  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet, 
but  the  casual  observer  would  pass  within  ten  feet  of  a  singing  bird 
and  be  none  the  wiser. 

547*  Ammodramus  henslowii  (Aud.).  Henslow's  Spabrow.  Ad. 
— Top  and  sides  of  the  head  and  the  nape  dull,  pale  olive-green,  more  buffy 
in  the  fall ;  side  of  the  crown  black ;  nape  finely  streaked  with  black ;  back 
rufous-brown,  the  feathers  with  narrow,  central,  wedge-shaped  black  streaks, 
and  narrow  ashy  margins;  bend  of  the  wing  pale  yellow;  wing-coverts  much 
like  the  back ;  tail-feathers  very  narrow  and  sharply  pointed ;  middle  feath- 
ers rufous-brown :  the  outer  ones  much  the  shortest ;  under  parts  white,  more 
or  less  washed  with  butfy  and  streaked  with  black  on  the  breast  and  sides. 
Young  in  first  plumage  have  no  spots  on  the  breast.  L.,  5-00 ;  W.,  2*20 ;  T., 
2-00 ;  B.,  -42. 

BemarJcs. — ^The  peculiar  olivaceous  color  of  the  head  and  nape,  and  the 
bright  rufous-brown  color  of  the  back,  wing-coverts,  and  middle  tail-feathers 
are  the  best  distinguishing  marks  of  this  species. 

Range. — Eastern  North  Amei'ica;  breeds  locally  from  Missouri  and  Vir- 
ginia northward  to  New  Hampshire  and  southern  Ontario ;  winters  from  about 
the  southern  limit  of  its  breeding  range  to  the  Gulf. 

Washington,  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  12  to  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Oct.  5 
to  Oct.  10.     Cambridge,  very  rare  S.  E. 

Nest,  of  grasses,  sometimes  lined  with  hairs,  on  the  ground.  Eggs,  four  to 
five,  grayish  white,  thickly  and  evenly  speckled  with  pale  rufous-brown, 
•75  X  -57. 

During  the  summer  this  species  seems  to  prefer  wet  meadows,  but 
in  the  winter  it  inhabits  the  dry  "  old  fields  "  grown  with  broom  sedge, 
which  are  so  common  in  the  south.  It  has  the  secretive  habits  of 
the  Grasshopper  and  Leconte's  Sparrows,  and  takes  wing  only  when 
forced  to. 

Mr.  P.  L.  Jouy  writes  of  its  song :  "  Besides  the  characteristic  notes 
of  tee-ivick,  they  have  quite  a  song  which  may  be  fairly  represented  by 
the  syllables  sis-r-r-rit-srit-srif,  with  the  accent  on  the  first  and  last 


FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC.  295 

parts.  This  song  is  often  uttered  while  the  bird  takes  a  short  flight 
upward ;  it  then  drops  down  again  into  the  tangled  weeds  and  grasses, 
where  it  is  almost  impossible  to  follow  it "  (Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  vi, 
1881,  p.  57). 

548.  Ammodramus  lecontei  (^^^.)-  Leconte's  Sparrow.  Ad. — 
No  yellow  before  the  eye  or  on  the  beud  of  the  wing ;  a  broad  ochraceous-bulf 
line  over  the  eye,  and  a  cream-buft  line  through  the  center  of  the  blackish 
crown;  nape  rufous-brown,  each  feather  with  a  small  black  central  spot  and 
an  ashy  border ;  back  black,  the  feathers  margined  first  by  rufous,  then  cream- 
bufi"  and  whitish  ;  tail  grayish  brown,  with  a  slight  rufous  tinge,  darker  along 
the  shaft :  the  feathers  narrow  and  sharply  pointed,  the  outer  ones  much  the 
shortest ;  breast  and  sides  tinged  with  butfy,  and  more  or  less  streaked  with 
black;  belly  white.    L.,  5-00;  W.,  2-00;  T.,  2-05;  B.,  -35. 

Bange. — "  Great  Plains  and  more  western  prairies,  breeding  from  Dakota, 
Minnesota,  etc.,  to  Manitoba,  migrating  southward  and  eastward,  in  winter, 
through  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kansas,  etc.,  to  South  Carolina,  and  Gulf  States  from 
Florida  to  Texas"  (Eidgw.). 

iVes^,  of  fine  grasses,  on  the  ground.  j5'^^s,  three,  delicate  pink,  lightly 
spotted  with  brownish  and  black  near  the  larger  end,  '75  x  '50  (Thompson). 

My  experience  on  the  coast  of  Texas  with  this  elusive  little  Spar- 
row conforms  with  that  of  most  observers,  and  the  few  specimens  I 
found  were  in  wet  marshes.  Mr.  L.  M.  Loomis,  however,  tells  us  that 
at  Chester,  South  Carolina,  where  Leconte's  Sparrow  is  a  locally  com- 
mon winter  visitant,  it  shows  a  marked  preference  for  dry  "  old  fields  " 
of  broom  sedge  (Auk,  ii,  1885,  p.  190). 

Few  birds  are  more  difficult  to  flush.  It  exhibits  a  rail-like  disin- 
clination to  take  wing,  and,  flying  low  and  feebly,  makes  for  the  nearest 
cover.  Ernest  E.  Thompson  records  it  as  an  abundant  summer  resi- 
dent in  the  willow  sloughs  and  grassy  flats  of  Manitoba,  and  describes 
its  call-notes  as  a  thin,  sharp,  ventriloquial  tweet,  and  a  single,  long- 
drawn  hizz  ;  while  its  song,  which  is  delivered  from  some  low  perch  a 
little  above  the  grass,  is  a  tiny,  husky,  double-noted  reese  reese,  "so 
thin  a  sound  and  so  creaky,  that  I  believe  it  is  usually  attributed  to  a 
grasshopper." 

549.  Ammodramus  caudacutus  {Gmel.).  Sharp-tailed  Spar- 
row. Ad. — General  color  of  the  upper  parts  a  brownish  olive-green ;  crown 
olive-brown,  with  a  blue-gray  line  through  its  center;  gray  ear-coverts,  in- 
closed by  ochraceous-buff  lines,  one  of  which  passes  over  the  eye  and  one 
down  the  side  of  the  throat ;  feathers  of  the  back  margined  with  grayish  and 
sometimes  whitish ;  bend  of  the  wing  yellow ;  tail-feathers  narrow  and 
sharply  pointed,  the  outer  feathers  much  the  shortest;  breast  and  sides 
washed  with  buffy,  paler  in  summer,  and  distinctly  streaked  with  black ; 
middle  of  the  throat  and  belly  white  or  whitish.  "  L.,  5-85  ;  W.,  2-30  ;  T.,  1-90 ; 
B.,  -50  "  (Dwight:). 


296  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC. 

Remarks. — The  chief  points  of  diflerence  between  this  and  the  two  fol- 
lowing birds  are  found  in  the  markings  of  the  breast  and  sides.  In  the  pres- 
ent species  these  parts  are  pale  ochraceous-bulf,  distinctly  streaked  witli 
blackish ;  in  nelsoni  they  are  deep  ochraceous-buft",  lightly  if  at  all  streaked  ; 
in  suhvirgatus  they  are  cream-buff,  indistinctly  streaked  with  grayish. 

^fm^e.— Atlantic  coast ;  breeds  from  South  Carolina  to  New  Hampshire, 
and  winters  from  North  Carolina  to  Florida. 

Cambridge,  common  S.  E.,  May  to  Sept. 

jS^est^  of  grasses  and  seaweed,  lined  with  fine  grasses,  on  the  ground.  JEggs^ 
three  to  four,  white  or  grayish  white,  finely  speckled  with  cinnamon-brown, 
especially  at  the  larger  end,  -78  x  -57. 

This  species  is  confined  exclusively  to  the  salt-water  marshes  of  our 
coast,  where  it  may  be  found  in  large  numbers.  It  runs  about  among 
the  reeds  and  grasses  with  the  celerity  of  a  mouse,  and  is  not  apt  to 
take  wing  unless  closely  pressed.  Mixed  flocks  of  the  several  varieties 
of  the  Sharp-tail,  together  with  the  Seaside  Sparrow,  gather  in  the  fall 
among  the  sedges,  and  may  be  observed  hiding  in  the  grass  or  cling- 
ing to  the  tall  stalks  of  the  cat-tails.  In  the  breeding  season  it  is 
usually  associated  with  the  Seaside  Sparrow  on  the  same  marsh,  but 
it  prefers  the  drier  parts,  and  builds  its  nest  in  the  tussocks  on  the 
bank  of  a  ditch  or  in  the  drift  left  by  the  tide,  rather  than  in  the 
grassier  sites  chosen  by  its  neighbor. 

From  some  bit  of  driftwood  or  a  convenient  stake  its  infrequent 
song  may  be  heard  morning  and  evening.  It  is  short  and  gasping, 
and  only  less  husky  than  the  somewhat  similar  performance  of  the 
Seaside  Sparrow.  J.  Dwight,  Jr. 

549a/*  A.  C.  nelsoni  Allen.  Nelson's  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. — Sim- 
ilar to  A.  caudacutus.,  but  smaller,  the  upper  parts  darker,  the  feathers  of 
the  back  more  olive-bi-own  and  more  hroadl j  mar gl/ied  with  whitish ;  the 
throat,  breast,  and  sides  deeper  ochraceous-buff,  very  slightly  if  at  all  streaked 
with  blackish.     "  L.,  5-50  ;  W.,  2-25  ;  T.,  1-90 ;  B.,  -43  "  (Dwight). 

Eange.— Breeds  in  the  marshes  of  the  interior  from  northern  Illinois 
northward  to  Dakota  and  Manitoba ;  occurs  as  a  migrant  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
and  winters  from  South  Carolina  to  Texas. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  two  instances,  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  com- 
mon T.  v.,  Sept.  28  to  Oct.  17. 

This  interior  representative  of  the  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow  occurs  on 
our  coasts  only  as  a  migrant  and  winter  visitant.  It  associates  with 
the  Sharp-tailed  and  Acadian  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

549b.  A.  c.  SubvirgOitus  Divight.  Acadian  Sharp-tailed  Spar- 
row.— Similar  to  A.  caudacutus.,  but  with  the  throat,  breast,  and  sides  washed 
vvith  cream-buff  and  indistinctly  streaked  with  ashy.  "  L.,  5"55 ;  W.,  2-30  ; 
T.,  2-00;  B.,  -46"  fD wight). 

Range. — "  Marshes  of  southern  New  Brunswick,  Prince  Edward  Island, 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  297 

and  probably  Nova  Scotia,  and  southward  in  migration  along  the  Atlantic 
coast"  (D wight). 

Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Sept.  29  to  Oct.  16.  Cambridge,  very  common  T. 
v.,  May;  Sept.  and  Oct. 

Since  this  race  was  separated  by  me  in  1887  few  new  facts  have  been 
developed  regarding  it,  except  that,  as  I  anticipated,  it  has  been  found 
in  other  parts  of  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  never  far  from  salt  water. 
While  frequenting  brackish  or  fresh-water  marshes,  where  the  grasses 
grow  more  luxuriantly  than  in  the  haunts  of  its  southern  relative,  it 
prefers  the  more  open  spots  or  those  where  damp  ditches  make  high- 
ways of  escape  for  it  afoot.  It  is  locally  abundant,  particularly  in  the 
great  marshes  that  border  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  but  so  retiring  that,  save 
for  its  little  song,  its  presence  might  be  easily  overlooked.  Swaying 
on  a  tall  stalk  of  meadow  rue  or  squatting  on  a  convenient  fence,  the 
males  may  be  found  at  all  hours  of  the  day  repeating  their  song  a  few 
times  and  then  flying  to  some  new  perch  or  burying  themselves  in  the 
grass.  Occasionally  toward  nightfall  one  will  mount  into  the  air  and 
with  set  wings  float  down,  fairly  gushing  with  song,  a  habit  shared  by 
the  ordinary  Sharp-tail  and  by  the  Seaside  Sparrow  as  well. 

With  these  birds  they  associate  in  autumn,  and  may  be  flushed  one 
or  two  at  a  time  from  the  strips  of  grass  or  reeds  that  are  left  on  the 
salt  marshes  along  the  ditches  after  the  hay  has  been  cut. 

The  song  is  a  husky,  gasping  effort,  not  very  loud,  and  executed 
with  a  nod  of  the  head.  It  is  sung  in  less  than  a  second,  and  resem- 
bles ksh-sh-sh-dolp,  the  last  syllable  occupying  one  fifth  of  the  time 
and  rather  musical  compared  with  the  harsh  lisp  that  precedes  it. 
They  also  have  a  tcMp  of  alarm,  but  it  is  the  exception  for  them  to 
show  much  anxiety  about  their  nests  or  young.  The  nest  has  never 
been  taken.  J.  Dwight,  Jr. 

650.  Aimnodramus  maritimus  (  Wils.).     Seaside  Sparrow.     Ad. 
— A  yellow  line  before  the  eye  and  on  the  bend  of  the  wing ;  upper  parts 
grayish  olive-green;  tail  grayish  brown, 
the  outer  webs  of  the   feathers  mar- 
gined  with   olive-greenish ;    a   dusky 
line  from  the  base  of  the  lower  mandi- 
ble passes  down  the  sides  of  the  throat ; 
breast  more  or  less  suffused  with  butfy 
(wanting  in  summer  specimens),  and 
indistinctly    streaked     with     grayish ; 
throat  and  middle  of  the  belly  white; 
sides  grayish.    L.,  6-00;  W.,  2-50;  T.,    ^^^-  84.— Seaside  Sparrow.    (Natural 
2-20;  B., -60.  ^^^^'^ 

Range. — Atlantic  coast ;  breeds  from  Georgia  to  Massachusetts,  and  win- 
ters from  Virginia  to  Georgia. 

Sing  Sing,  A.  V. 


298  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

Nest^  of  coarse  grasses  and  reed  stalks,  lined  with  grasses,  on  the  ground, 
Eggs^  three  to  four,  white  or  bluish  white,  clouded  or  finely  speckled  with 
cinnamon-brown,  especially  at  the  larger  end,  -80  x  -63. 

Like  most  marsh-loving  birds,  Seaside  Sparrows  are  so  consistent 
in  their  choice  of  a  home  that  it  would  be  quite  useless  to  look  for 
them  anywhere  but  in  a  marsh,  and  that  a  salt  one,  generally  within 
sound  or  at  least  sight  of  the  sea.  The  baymen  call  them  "  Meadow 
Chippies,"  and  often  when  Snipe  and  Plover  shooting  1  have  drawn 
numbers  to  me  by  simply  squeaking.  They  tipped  all  the  reeds  about 
ray  blind,  chirping  excitedly  at  the  peculiar  sound  which  aroused 
their  curiosity.  They  pass  much  of  their  time  on  the  ground  among 
the  reeds  and  grasses,  but  mount  a  stalk  to  sing  their  short,  unattract- 
ive song  of  four  or  five  notes.  Sometimes  they  flutter  into  the  air  a 
few  feet  above  the  reeds  and  deliver  their  song  while  on  the  wing. 

The  absence  of  distinct  streaks  on  the  breast  and  lack  of  rufous 
in  their  olivaceous  or  grayish  plumage  will  distinguish  them  from  the 
Sharp-tailed,  Swamp,  Savanna,  or  Song  Sparrows,  the  only  ones  which 
are  likely  to  be  found  in  their  haunts. 

550a.  A.  m.  peninsulsB  Allen.  Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow.— Similar 
to  the  preceding,  but  much  darker ;  prevailing  color  of  the  upper  parts  brown- 
ish black,  the  feathers  margined  with  grayish  olive-green ;  under  parts  more 
heavily  streaked,  the  breast  and  sides  streaked  with  black  or  blackish.  W., 
2-30  ;  T.,  2-00  ;  B.,  -52. 

Range. — Atlantic  coast  from  northern  Florida  to  South  Carolina;  Gulf 
coast  from  Florida  to  Texas. 

A  common  southern  representative  of  the  Seaside  Sparrow. 

551.  Ammodramus  nigrescens  Ridgw.  Dusky  Seaside  Sparrow. 
Ad. — Upper  parts  hlaclc^  narrowly  margined  with  grayish  and  grayish  olive- 
green  ;  under  parts  sharply  streaked  with  black  and  white  in  about  equal 
proportions.     "  L.,  5-95;  W.,  2-25-2-40  ;  T.,  2-10-2-50:  B.,  •50--60"  (Kidgw.). 

RemarJcs. — This  species  is  very  distinct,  and  can  be  at  once  distinguished 
from  A.  m.  peninsulce.,  its  nearest  known  ally,  by  its  much  darker  upper  parts 
and  conspicuously  streaked  under  parts. 

Range. — Marshes  at  the  northern  end  of  Indian  Eiver,  Florida. 

Nest  and  eggs  unknown. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard,  the  only  collector  who  has  ever  met  with  this 
species,  found  a  single  individual,  March  17,  1872,  at  Salt  Lake,  near 
Titusville,  while  in  April  it  was  "  quite  common  on  the  marshes  of 
Indian  River  Just  below  Dumraett's  Grove."  and  "  very  abundant  on 
the  upper  end  of  Merritt's  Island."  1  have  searched  for  it  most  care- 
fully, but  without  success,  during  February  and  March  in  the  marshes 
of  the  east  peninsula  of  Indian  River  opposite  Micco,  and  for  a  species 
which  is  not  rare,  the  Dusky  Seaside  Sparrow  apparently  has  a  more 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  299 

restricted  range  than  any  other  North  American  bird.  Mr.  Maynard 
considers  it  migratory,  and  states  that  it  is  not  found  in  Florida  during 
the  winter.  In  flight  as  well  as  in  habits,  he  says,  it  resembles  the 
Sharp-tailed  rather  than  the  Seaside  Sparrow  (A.  maritimus).  Its  song 
of  low,  sputtering  notes  is  given  while  the  bird  hovers  in  the  air,  after 
which  it  drops  quickly  into  the  grass. 

552.  Chondestes  grammacus  {Sa^/).  Lark  Sparrow;  Lark 
Finch.  Ad. — Sides  of  the  crown  and  ear-coverts  chestnut,  a  wliitish  line 
over  the  eye  and  througli  the  center  of  the  crown  ;  a  black  streak  on  the  sides 
of  the  throat ;  upper  parts  brownish  ash  ;  back  streaked  with  blackish  ;  tail 
fuscous  or  black,  the  outer  feathers  tipped 
with  white;  under  parts  white,  a  small 
black  spot  in  the  middle  of  the  breast. 
L.,  6-25  ;  VV.,  3-50  ;  T.,  2-75  ;  B.,  -45. 

Range. — Interior  of  North  America, 
eastward  to  Illinois ;  breeds  from  Texas 
to  Manitoba ;  accidental  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  (Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  New 
Jersey,  District  of  Columbia,  Florida). 

Washington,  A.  V.,  July,  Aug.,  two 

-^oT^fiiT-^^  Fig.  85.— Lark  Sparrow.    (Natural 

captures.  ^  gj^^^^ 

Nest.^  of  grasses,  lined  with  rootlets, 
fine  grasses,  and  long  hairs,  on  the  ground  or  in  low  trees  or  bushes.     Eggs., 
three  to  five,  white  or  pinkish  white,  spotted,  blotched,  or  scrawled  witli  pur- 
plish or  black,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  -78  x  •60. 

This  is  an  exceedingly  common  bird  in  the  west.  It  frequents 
localities  of  much  the  same  nature  as  those  selected  by  the  Grass 
Finch,  and  in  its  general  habits  and  song  reminds  one  of  that  species. 

554.  Zonotrichia  leucophrys  {Forst.).  White-crowned  Spar- 
row. Ad. — No  yellow  before  the  eye  or  on  the  bend  of  the  wing ;  center  of 
the  crown  with  a  white  stripe  bordered  on  either  side  by  black  stripes,  all  of 
about  equal  width  ;  no  white  before  the  eye ;  a  white  line  from  over  the  eye 
passes  backward  along  the  side  of  the  head;  nape  gray;  back  dark  grayish 
brown,  margined  with  gray ;  rump  dark  brownish  ash ;  greater  and  middle 
wing-coverts  tipped  with  white ;  tail  fuscous ;  under  parts  grayish  white  on 
the  belly,  flanks"iand  under  tail-coverts  cream-butf.  Im. — Generally  similar, 
but  sides  of  the  ci'own  rufous-brown,  center  of  the  crown  pale  grayish  brown ; 
nape  brownish  ash  ;  back  margined  with  the  same  color.  L.,  6"88  ;  W.,  3-03  ; 
T.,  2-88  ;  B.,  -43. 

Range. — "  Breeding  from  higher  mountain  ranges  of  western  United 
States,  Sierra  Nevada,  Rocky  Mountains,  and  eastward,  north  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  to  Labrador;  in  winter,  over  whole  of  United  States,  and  south  into 
Mexico"  (Ridgw.). 

Washington,  irregularly  common  W.  V.  and  T.  V.,  Apl.  15  to  May  15; 
Oct.  15  to  Nov.  30.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  May  9  to  26 ;  Oct.  3  to  30.  Cam- 
bridge, uncommon  T.  V.,  May  12  to  22 ;  Oct.  1  to  20. 


300  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

Nest,  of  grasses,  on  the  ground  or  in  bushes.  Eggs,  four  to  five,  pale  green- 
ish blue,  speckled  and  spotted  with  bay,  especially  at  the  larger  end,  -90  x  -62 
(Davie). 

This  is  one  of  the  aristocrats  of  the  family.  Its  size  and  its  hand- 
some markings  at  one  distinguish  it  from  its  congeners,  and  are  sure 
to  attract  attention.  Though  its  season  of  love  and  music  is  spent  in 
the  far  north,  it  often  favors  us  with  selections  of  its  melodies  as  it 
rests  in  thickets  and  hedgerows  while  slowly  passing  through  our 
country  on  its  northward  pilgrimage.  Its  usual  song  is  like  the  latter 
half  of  the  White-throat's  familiar  refrain,  repeated  a  number  of  times 
with  a  peculiar  sad  cadence  and  in  a  clear,  soft  whistle  that  is  charac- 
teristic of  the  group.  It  resembles  its  relatives  also  in  singing  its 
sweetest  songs  in  the  woods,  sometimes  during  the  darkest  hours  of 
the  night.  Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

558*  Zonotrichiai  a/lbicollis  ( Gmel.).  White-throated  Sparrow  ; 
Peabody-bird.  Ad. — A  yellow  line  before  the  eye;  bend  of  the  wing  yellow; 
center  of  the  crown  with  a  white  stripe  bounded  on  either  side  by  much  wider 
black  stripes;  a  white  stripe  from  the  eye  passes  backward  along  the  side  of 
the  head ;  back  rufous  or  rufous-brown,  streaked  with  black  and  slightly 
margined  with  whitish  ;  rump  grayish  brown ;  greater  and  middle  wing-cov- 
erts tipped  with  white;  tail  grayish  brown;  under  parts  grayish,  more  so  on 
the  breast ;  throat  with  a  square  white  patch  ;  belly  whitish ;  flanks  and 
under  tail-coverts  tinged  with  grayish  brown.  Im. — Yellow  before  the  eye, 
and  on  the  bend  of  the  wing  duller ;  crown  streaks  brownish  ashy  and  mixed 
chestnut  and  black,  instead  of  white  and  black ;  throat  patch  less  sharply 
defined.     L.,  6-74;  W.,  2-89;  T.,  2-86;  B.,  -44. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Michigan,  and 
occasionally  Massachusetts,  northward  to  Labrador ;  winters  from  Massachu- 
setts to  Florida. 

Washington,  very  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  28  to  May  20.  Sing  Sing,  com- 
mon T.  v.,  Apl.  10  to  May  21 ;  Sept.  20  to  Oct.  30 ;  a  few  winter.  Cambridge, 
very  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  25  to  May  15 ;  Oct.  1  to  Nov.  10 ;  a  few  winter. 

Nest,  of  coarse  grasses,  rootlets,  moss,  strips  of  bark,  etc.,  lined  with  finer 
grasses,  on  the  ground  or  in  bushes.  Eggs,  four  to  five,  bluish  white,  finely 
and  evenly  speckled  or  heavily  and  irregularly  blotched  with  pale  rufous- 
brown,  -82  X  -60. 

In  September,  when  the  hedgerows  and  woodland  undergrowths 
begin  to  rustle  with  Sparrows,  Juncos,  and  Towhees,  I  watch  eagerly 
for  the  arrival  of  these  welcome  fall  songsters. 

There  is  little  in  their  modest  appearance  to  tell  one,  as  they  feed 
on  the  ground  near  their  haunts,  of  their  vocal  powers,  and  one  might 
be  pardoned  for  believing  that  a  feeble  tseep  was  their  only  note.  I 
whistle  a  bar  or  two  of  greeting  in  their  own  language.  They  are  evi- 
dently puzzled,  but  make  no  reply,  for  it  has  apparently  been  agreed 
among  themselves  that  singing  shall  not  begin  for  at  least  a  week  after 


White-throated  Sparrow. 
White-crowned  Sparrow. 


FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC.  301 

their  arrival.     Then  there  are  a  few  sweet,  tremulous  trials  before  the 
plaintive,  sympathetic  whistle  brings  cheer  to  the  browning  woods : 


1=^t=-        


or 


Few  birds  are  more  sociable  than  the  White-throats.  At  this  season 
they  are  always  in  little  companies,  and  they  frequently  roost  together 
in  large  numbers  in  the  depths  of  dense  thickets  or  clumps  of  ever- 
greens. After  they  have  retired  one  may  hear  the  sharp  chiiik  of  their 
"  quarrier  "  chorus,  and  when  darkness  comes,  with  low,  brooding  notes 
of  cozy  companionship  they  are  hushed  for  the  night. 

559.  Spizella  monticola  (Gmel.).  Tbee  Sparkow;  Winter 
Chippy.  Ad. — No  black  on  the  forehead ;  an  indistinct  hlaclc  spot  on  the 
center  of  the  'breast ;  top  of  the  head  rufous-brown,  sometimes  edged  with 
ashy ;  a  grayish  line  over  the  eye  and  a  rufous-brown  line  behind  it ;  back 
streaked  with  rufous-brown,  black,  and  pale  ochraceous-buif ;  rump  pale 
grayish  brown ;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white ;  outer 
web  of  the  outer  tail-feather  whitish ;  breast  grayish  white ;  middle  of  the 
belly  white ;  sides  tinged  with  pale  grayish  brown ;  upper  mandible  black, 
lower,  yellow  at  the  base,  the  tip  black.     L.,  6-36 ;  W.,  2-99  ;  T.,  2*82  ;  B.,  -41. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  in  Labrador  and  the  region 
about  Hudson  Bay  ;  south  in  winter,  through  eastern  United  States ;  west  to 
the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains. 

Washington,  abundant  W.  V.,  Nov.  1  to  Apl.  5.  Sing  Sing,  common 
W.  v.,  Oct.  10  to  Apl.  27.  Cambridge,  common  W.  V.,  abundant  T.  V.,  Oct. 
25  to  Nov.  25 ;  Mch.  20  to  Apl.  20. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  rootlets,  and  hair,  on  or  near  the  ground.  "  Eggs.^  four  to 
five,  pale  green  or  greenish  blue,  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  "75  x  -60  " 
(Chamberlain). 

Tree  Sparrows  wear  a  small  black  dot  on  the  center  of  their  other- 
wise unmarked  breasts,  a  badge  which  will  aid  in  their  identification. 
They  come  in  flocks  when  the  fields  are  beginning  to  look  brown  and 
dreary,  but  seem  contented  with  the  surroundings  from  which  other 
birds  have  fled. 

They  feed  on  the  seeds  of  weeds  and  grasses,  and  even  when  the 
snow  is  deepest  always  find  an  abundance  of  food.  I  like  to  see  them 
feasting  on  the  seed  stalks  above  the  crust,  and  to  hear  their  chorus  of 
merry,  tinkling  notes,  like  sparkling  frost  crystals  turned  to  music. 

Winter  Chippies  they  are  sometimes  called,  but  at  this  season  there 


302  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,   ETC. 

is  little  of  the  Chippy's  nature  about  them.  In  February  or  March 
they  begin  to  sing  a  song  which  has  been  compared  to  that  of  a  Ca- 
nary, but  is  "  finer,  sweeter,  and  not  so  loud." 

560.  Spizella  SOCialis  (  Wils.).     Chipping  Sparrow;  Chippy.     Ad. 
— Forehead  black,  a  short  grayish  line  in  its  middle ;  top  of  the  head  rufous ; 
the  nape  generally  with  a  few  black  streaks;  a 
grayish  line  over  the  eye  and  a  black  line  behind 
it;  back  of  the  neck  grayish,  separating  the  rufous 
crown  from  the  back ;  back  streaked  with  black,  a 
little  rufous,  and  more  pale  bufty  ochraceous ;  rump 
slat:?/  gray  ;  wing-bars  not  conspicuous  ;  under  parts 
grayish  white,  whiter  on  the  throat  and  belly ;  bill 
Fig.  86.— Chippine  Spar-    ©^^irely  hlack.     Im. — Similar,  but  no  rufous  crown- 
row.    (Natural  size.)       cap  or  black  on  the  forehead ;  top  of  the  head 
streaked  like  the  back ;  bill  brownish.     Young  in 
first  plumage  have  the  breast  streaked  with  black.     L.,  5-37  ;  W.,  2-74;  T., 
2-29;  B., -36. 

Remarks. — In  adults  the  rufous  crown,  black  forehead,  gray  rump,  and 
black  bill  are  characteristic;  in  the  young  the  gray  rump  is  a  good  distin- 
guishing mark. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  New- 
foundland and  Great  Slave  Lake ;  winters  in  the  Gulf  States  and  Mexico. 

Washington,  common  S.  K.,  abundant  T.  V.,  Mch.  15  to  Nov.  1,  occasion- 
ally winters.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  9  to  Nov.  7.  Cambridge,  abun- 
dant S.  R.,  Apl.  15  to  Oct.  25. 

Nest.^  of  grasses,  fine  twigs,  or  rootlets,  thickly  lined  with  long  hairs,  in 
trees  or  bushes,  five  to  twenty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  blue  or  greenish 
blue,  with  cinnamon-brown  or  blackish  markings,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end, 
•72  X  -51. 

The  Chippy  is  among  Sparrows  what  the  Phoebe  is  among  Fly- 
catchers— the  humblest,  most  unassuming  member  of  its  family.  Both 
show  trustfulness,  which,  in  spite  of  their  unattractive  appearance  and 
far  from  pleasing  voices,  wins  our  affection. 

Chippy  makes  his  nest  in  the  vines  on  our  piazza,  and  feeds  on  the 
crumbs  at  our  doorstep,  quite  as  though  he  were  a  member  of  the 
family ;  and  he  needs  only  a  little  encouragement  to  give  evidence  of 
his  entire  confidence  in  our  good  will  by  feeding  from  our  hands. 

His  song  is  a  monotonous  cMppy-chippy-chippy-chippy,  rather  high 
and  wiry  and  frequently  running  into  an  insectlike  trill — by  no  means 
a  musical  performance. 

In  the  fall  Chippy  changes  his  dress,  dons  a  streaked  cap  for  the 
one  of  bright  bay,  and,  with  others  of  his  kind,  goes  to  the  fields  to 
feast  on  the  year's  harvest  of  seeds.  He  is  generally  found  near  trees 
and  hedgerows,  into  which,  when  alarmed,  he  flies  with  his  com- 
panions. 


PINCHES,   SPARROWS,  ETC.  303 

561*  Spizella  pallida  {Swains.}.  Clay-colored  Sparrow.  Ad. — 
With  a  general  resemblance  to  immature  S.  socialis.,  but  less  rufous  above, 
whiter  below,  the  line  over  the  eye  white,  and  the  rump  pale  grayish  brown 
instead  of  slaty  gray.     W.,  2-40  ;  T.,  2-35 ;  B.,  -34. 

Bang e.— Interior  of  North  America ;  breeds  from  northern  Nebraska,  cen- 
tral Iowa,  and  northern  Illinois  northward;  winters  from  southern  Texas 
southward ;  accidental  in  North  Carolina. 

JVest.,  of  grasses,  lined  with  hairs,  on  the  ground  or  in  bushes.  J^ggs.,  three 
to  five,  similar  to  those  of  *S.  socialis. 

"  This  pale  Sparrow  of  the  plains  is  very  similar  in  actions  to  the 
Chipping  Sparrow,  but  less  familiar  and  confiding  in  habits  "  (Goss). 

Brewer's  Sparrow  {562.  Spizella  hreweri).,  a  western  species,  has  been 
recorded  once  from  Massachusetts. 

563«  Spizella  pusilla  (  Wits.).  Field  Sparrow.  Ad. — Bill  reddish 
brown  ;  top  of  the  head  rufous,  a  gray  line  over  the  eye ;  nape  slightly  gray  ; 
back  like  the  crown,  but  finely  streaked  with  black  and  narrowly  edged  with 
brownish  ashy;  rump  brownish  ashy;  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts 
tipped  with  white  ;  under  parts  white,  tinged  with  ochraceous  -  butf  on  the 
breast  and  sides.  Im. — Similar,  but  the  colors  duller,  the  crown  edged  with 
grayish  and  sometimes  a  faint  grayish  line  through  its  center.  Young  in  first 
plumage  have  the  breast  streaked  with  black.  L.,  5*68;  W.,  2*50;  T.,  2*55; 
B.,  -36. 

Bemarlcs. — This  bird  may  be  known  by  its  brightly  colored  back,  buffy 
breast,  and  especially  by  its  reddish  bill. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  southern  Illinois  and  South 
Carolina  to  Quebec  and  Manitoba;  winters  from  Illinois  and  Virginia  south- 
ward. 

"Washington,  very  common  P.  E.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  2  to  Nov. 
7.     Cambridge,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  15  to  Nov.  1. 

Nest.,  of  rather  coarse  grasses,  weed  stalks,  rootlets,  etc.,  lined  with  fine 
grasses  and  long  hairs,  on  the  ground  or  in  low  bushes.  Eggs.,  three  to  five, 
white  or  bluish  white,  with  numerous  rufous  markings,  chiefiy  about  the 
larger  end,  -70  x  -52. 

Its  bright  rufous  color,  the  absence  of  spots  on  its  breast,  and  espe- 
cially its  flesh-colored  bill,  are  the  best  field-marks  of  this  misnamed 
Sparrow.  He  is  not  a  true  Field  Sparrow,  but  prefers  old  pastures 
dotted  with  clumps  of  bushes  or  young  cedars.  There  is  something 
winning  in  his  appearance ;  he  seems  such  a  gentle,  innocent,  dove- 
like little  bird.  His  song  is  in  keeping  with  his  character,  being  an 
unusually  clear,  plaintive  whistle,  sweeter  to  the  lover  of  birds'  songs 
than  the  voice  of  the  most  gifted  songstress.  It  is  subject  to  much 
variation.  Not  only  do  the  same  individuals  sing  several  different 
songs,  but  two  individuals  in  the  same  locality  rarely  sing  alike. 
There  is  also  much  variation  in  the  songs  of  birds  from  different 
regions.     For  this  reason  it  is  quite  impossible  to  give  a  description 


304  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

of  the  song  which  will  apply  throughout  the  bird's  range.  However, 
an  average  song  consists  of  the  syllables  cher-wee,  cher-wee,  cher-wee, 
cher-wee,  chee-o,  de-de-de-de-de,  the  last  notes  joined  in  a  trill. 

This  gives,  of  course,  no  idea  of  the  quality  of  the  Field  Sparrow's 
song,  but  to  be  convinced  of  its  rare  beauty  one  need  only  hear  it  as 
the  sun  goes  down  and  the  hush  of  early  evening  is  quieting  the  earth. 

The  Western  Field  Sparrow  {563a.  ISpizella  pusilla  arenacea)  has  been 
recorded  from  the  vicinity  of  New  Orleans. 

^&7,  Junco  liyeaLSbMs  {Linn.).  Junco;  Snowbird.  Ad.  $. — Upper 
parts,  throat,  and  breast  grayish  slate-color ;  upper  parts  more  or  less  washed 
with  grayish  brown ;  belly  white,  sides  grayish  ;  no  wing-bars ;  tail  fuscous, 
the  two  outer  feathers  and  part  of  the  third  white  ;  bill  tiesh-color.  Ad.  9  . — 
Similar,  but  the  upper  parts  browner,  throat  and  breast  paler.  Young  in 
first  plumage  resemble  the  adults,  but  have  the  upper  parts,  throat,  and 
breast  streaked  with  black.    L.,  6-27  ;  W.,  3-03 ;  T.,  2-71 ;  B.,  -41. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Minnesota  and  northern 
New  York  northward  and  southward  along  the  summits  of  the  Alleghanies 
to  Virginia ;  winters  southward  to  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  abundant  W.  V.,  Oct.  5  to  Apl.  25.  Sing  Sing,  common  W. 
v.,  Sept.  19  to  May  4.  Cambridge,  rather  common  W.  V.,  abundant  T.  V., 
Sept.  20  to  Nov.  25 ;  Mch.  20  to  Apl.  20. 

Nest.^  of  grasses,  moss,  and  rootlets,  lined  with  fine  grasses  and  long  hairs, 
on  or  near  the  ground.  Eggs.^  four  to  five,  white  or  bluish  white,  finely  and 
evenly  speckled  or  spotted,  sometimes  heavily  blotched,  at  the  larger  end 
with  rufous-brown,  -76  x  -58. 

When  the  snow  begins  to  fly  you  will  look  out  some  gray  morning 
to  find  a  flock  of  small,  plump,  slate-colored  birds  hopping  about  the 
dooryard,  picking  up  what  they  can  find,  or  sitting  in  the  bushes  with 
an  air  of  contentment  that  it  is  pleasant  to  see. 

Coming,  as  they  do,  when  most  of  the  home  birds  have  left  for  the 
south,  they  bring  their  own  welcome,  and  soon  seem  like  old  friends. 
But  if  you  would  really  know  your  gentle  winter  visitors,  you  must 
go  back  into  the  woods  when  summer  comes  and  find  them  in  their 
own  homes. 

Look  for  them  in  a  tangle  of  fallen  tree-tops,  logs,  and  upturned 
roots.  A  pair  I  once  surprised  in  such  a  place  at  first  sat  and  chirped 
at  me — with  bills  full  of  food — but  soon  they  were  flying  freely  back 
and  forth  to  the  upturned  root  where  they  had  hidden  their  nest. 

1  noticed  with  surprise  that  their  gray  plumage  toned  in  so  well 
with  the  dark  earth  that  they  were  hard  to  see.  The  sharp  horizontal 
line  across  the  breast  where  the  gray  turns  abruptly  to  white  added 
to  the  disguise,  the  straight  line  breaking  the  round  form  of  the  bird. 

The  Hsip  of  the  Junco  is  unmistakable  and  more  often  heard  than 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  305 

his  song,  but  he  has  both  a  trill  and  a  low,  sweet  song  as  unpreten- 
tious and  cheery  as  the  friendly  bird  himself. 

Florence  A.  Merriam. 

567e.  J.  h.  caiFOlinensis  Brewst.  Carolina  Junco. — Similar  to  the 
preceding  species,  but  slightly  larger,  the  upper  parts,  throat,  and  breast  uni- 
form grayish  slate-color  without  a  brownish  wash,  bill  horn-color.  W.,  3-26 : 
T.,  2-85 ;  B.,  -43. 

Range. — Mountains  of  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina. 

This  is  a  common  and  apparently  permanent  resident  species  in  the 
higher  parts  of  the  southern  Alleghanies. 

Shufeldt's  Junco  {567h.  Junco  hyemalis  shu/eldti),  a  western  species,  has 
been  recorded  from  Illinois,  District  of  Columbia,  Maryland,  and  Massachu- 
setts. It  resembles  J.  hyemalis,  but  has  the  back  browner  and  the  sides 
brownish  vinaceous. 

575.  PeucSBa  sestivalis  {Licht.).  Pine-woods  Sparrow.  Ad.— 
Upper  parts  light  chestnut,  more  or  less  streaked  with  black  and  margined 
with  gray ;  a  grayish  line  over  the  eye;  bend  of  the  wing  yellow;  tail- 
feathers  narrow,  grayish  fuscous,  the  outer  ones  much  the  shortest ;  breast 
and  sides  washed  with  pale  brownish  ash ;  breast  sometimes  with  a  few 
black  spots ;  middle  of  the  belly  white.    L.,  5-80  ;  W,,  2*50 ;  T.,  2.50 ;  B.,  -45. 

Range. — Florida  and  southern  Georgia. 

Nest,  of  fine  grasses,  on  the  ground,  beneath  scrub  palmetto.  Eggs,  three 
to  four,  pure  white,  -72  x  -61. 

This  is  a  common  bird  in  Florida.  It  winters  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  State  and  migrates  northward  in  March.  It  is  found  only  in 
pine  woods  having  an  undergrowth  of  scrub  palmetto.  Here  it  passes 
most  of  its  time  on  the  ground,  and  is  difficult  to  flush. 

When  singing,  it  seeks  an  elevated  perch.  In  my  opinion  its  song 
is  more  beautiful  than  that  of  any  other  of  our  Sparrows.  It  is  very 
simple,  but  it  possesses  all  the  exquisite  tenderness  and  pathos  of  the 
melody  of  the  Hermit  Thrush  ;  indeed,  in  purity  of  tone  and  in  execu- 
tion 1  should  consider  the  Sparrow  the  superior  songster.  It  sings  most 
freely  very  early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  the 
world  is  hushed  and  the  pine  trees  breathe  a  soft  accompaniment  to 
its  divine  music. 

575ai.  P.  se.  bachmainii  (Aud.).  Bachman's  Sparrow. — Similar  to 
the  preceding  species,  but  the  upper  parts  rufous,  black  streaks  generally 
confined  to  the  back,  or  absent ;  line  over  the  eye  buff'y  ;  breast  and  sides 
brownish  cream-buif  without  streaks. 

Range. — Lower  Mississippi  Valley  north  to  southern  Indiana  and  southern 
Illinois ;  west  to  northern  Texas  ;  east  to  Georgia,  South  and  North  Carolina ; 
south  in  winter,  in  the  Atlantic  States,  to  southern  Florida. 

JVest,  of  grasses,  domed  and  cylindrical,  on  the  ground.     Eggs,  three  to 
four,  pure  white,  -74  x  -60  (Bendire,  Auk,  v,  1888,  p.  356). 
21 


306  FINCHES,   SPARROWS,  ETC. 

In  Florida,  where  this  bird  is  not  uncommon  during  the  winter,  I 
have  found  it  in  pine  woods  undergrown  with  turkey  oaks,  and  not  in 
localities  frequented  by  P.  CBstivalis.  Mr.  Ridgway  writes  that  in 
Illinois  this  is  "  emphatically  a  bird  of  open  oak  woods,  where  large 
white  and  post  oaks  prevail,  with  grass  land  immediately  adjoining, 
or  where  the  intervals  between  the  trees  consist  of  sward  rather  than 
undergrowth ;  but  neglected  fields,  grown  up  to  weeds,  and  in  which 
dead  trees  are  left  standing,  are  also  its  favorite  haunts." 

He  speaks  of  its  song  as  reminding  one  somewhat  of  the  plaintive 
chant  of  the  Field  Sparrow,  but  as  far  sweeter  and  louder ;  "  the  modu- 
lation, as  nearly  as  can  be  expressed  in  words,  resembling  the  syllables 
theeeeeee-thut,  lut,  lut,  lut,  the  first  being  a  rich  silvery  trill,  pitched  in 
a  high  musical  key,  ihe  other  syllables  also  metallic,  but  abrupt,  and 
lower  in  tone." 

581.  Melospiza  fasciata  {Gmel.).  Song  Sparrow,  Ad. — Crown 
rufous-brown,  with  a  grayish  line  through  its  center ;  a  grayish  line  over  the 
eye;  a  rufous-brown  line  from  behind  the  eye  to  the  nape ;  feathers  of  the 
back  streaked  with  black  and  margined  with  rufous-brown  and  grayish ; 
greater  wing-coverts  with  black  spots  at  their  tips;  no  white  wing-bars  or 
yellow  on  the  wing ;  tail  rufous  grayish  brown,  the  middle  feathers  darker 
along  their  shafts ;  outer  feathers  shortest ;  sides  of  the  throat  with  black  or 
blackish  streaks;  breast  with  wedge-shaped  streaks  of  black  and  rufous- 
brown  which  tend  to  form  one  larger  blotch  on  the  center ;  sides  washed 
with  brownish  and  streaked  with  black  and  rufous-brown  ;  middle  of  the 
belly  white.    L.,  6-30 ;  W.,  2-52 ;  T.,  2-G2 ;  B.,  -49. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  northern  Illinois  and  Vir- 
ginia north  to  Quebec  and  Manitoba;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  and 
Massachusetts  to  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  common  P.  E.,  abundant  T.  V.,  Mch.  and  Oct.  Sing  Sing, 
common  P.  K.  Cambridge,  very  abundant  S.  E.,  Mch.  10  to  Nov.  1 ;  locally 
common  W.  V. 

Nest^  of  coarse  grasses,  rootlets,  dead  leaves,  strips  of  bark,  etc.,  lined  with 
finer  grasses  and  sometimes  long  hairs,  on  the  ground,  sometimes  in  bushes. 
Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white  or  bluish  white,  with  numerous  rufous-brown  mark- 
ings which  sometimes  nearly  conceal  the  ground  color,  'TG  x  '60. 

The  Song  Sparrow's  vast  range  in  a  dozen  varying  climates,  its 
readiness  to  adapt  itself  to  the  different  conditions  in  each  of  the  re- 
gions it  inhabits,  its  numerical  abundance  and  steady  increase  while 
some  of  its  family  are  dying  out,  its  freedom  from  disease  and  vermin, 
and  its  perennial  good  spirits  evidenced  by  its  never-failing  music — 
all  proclaim  that  it  is  indeed  one  of  Nature's  successes. 

Its  irrepressible  vivacity  and  good  spirits  in  spite  of  all  circum- 
stances are  aptly  illustrated  by  the  fact  that  its  song  may  be  heard  in 
every  month  of  the  year  and  in  all  weathers ;  also  by  night  as  well  as 
by  day — for  nothing  is  more  common  in  the  darkest  nights  than  to 


Song  Sparrow. 
Swamp  Sparrow. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  307 

hear  its  sweet  chant  in  half-conscious  answer  to  the  hooting  of  the 
Owl  or  even  the  report  of  a  gun. 

It  is  never  seen  far  from  water,  and  when  it  is  alarmed  it  flies 
downward  or  along — never  upward — into  some  low  thicket,  pumping 
its  tail  as  it  flies. 

Its  alarm  note  is  a  simple  metallic  chip,  which  is  very  distinctive 
when  once  learned.  But  its  merry  chant — which  has  won  for  it  the 
name  of  "Song  Sparrow" — is  its  best-known  note.  It  is  a  voluble 
and  uninterrupted  but  short  refrain,  and  is  perhaps  the  sweetest  of 
the  familiar  voices  of  the  meadow  lands.  The  song  that  it  occasion- 
ally utters  while  on  the  wing  is  of  quite  a  different  character,  being 
more  prolonged  and  varied. 

Though  so  abundant,  it  can  not  be  styled  a  sociable  species.  Even 
during  the  migrations  it  is  never  seen  in  compact  flocks  like  the  Red- 
poll or  Snowflake  ;  at  most  it  will  be  found  forming  a  part  of  a  long, 
scattered  migrating  train  that  usually  includes  a  number  of  different 
but  nearly  related  species.  Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

583.  Melospiza  lincolni  (Aud.).  Lincoln's  Sparrow.  Ad.^ 
Upper  parts  streaked  with  black,  brownish  gray,  and  grayish  brown;  tail 
feathers  narrow  and  rather  pointed,  the  outer  ones  shortest;  under  parts 
white,  rather  finely  streaked  with  black,  a  broad  cream-buff  band  across  the 
breast^  a  cream-butf  stripe  on  either  side  of  the  throat ;  sides  tinged  with 
cream-buff.    L.,  5-75  ;  W.,  2-50 ;  T.,  2-40 ;  B.,  -41. 

Eemarhs. — The  cream  -  buff  band  on  the  breast  is  distinctive  of  this 
species. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  northern  Illinois  and  north- 
ern New  York  northward;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  to  Mexico;  rare 
east  of  the  Alleghanies. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  several  records,  May  and  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  rare 
T.  v.,  Sept.  29  to  Oct.  16.  Cambridge,  uncommon  T.  V.,  May  15  to  May  25 ; 
Sept.  15  to  Oct.  5. 

Nest,  generally  similar  to  that  of  M.  fasciata,  on  the  ground.  "  I^ggs,  four 
to  five,  pale  green  or  bullish,  sometimes  almost  white,  thickly  spotted  and 
blotched  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  '80  x  60"  (Chamberlain). 

The  most  striking  characteristic  about  the  Lincoln's  Sparrow  is  its 
shyness,  whether  migrating  in  the  lavish  abundance  of  the  west,  stray- 
ing casually  through  the  States  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  or  settled 
for  the  summer  m  a  chosen  spot  of  the  northern  evergreen  woods. 
Scampering  like  a  mouse  along  some  tumble-down  stone  wall  half 
buried  in  poison  ivy,  sumach,  and  all  the  tangled  growth  that  goes 
to  make  up  an  old  hedgerow,  or  peering  out  from  a  clump  of  low- 
spreading  bushes,  this  little  bird  may  sometimes  be  detected ;  but  as 
he  hurries  northward  late  in  the  migration,  when  all  the  woods  and 
fields  are  ringing  with  bird  music,  our  attention  is  seldom  directed 


308  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

toward  the  silent  straggler,  while  in  the  autumn  he  is  lost  in  the  waves 
of  Sparrows  that  flood  the  country. 

If  we  follow  him  northward,  we  find  him  irregularly  distributed  in 
small  colonies  or  single  pairs  in  damp  clearings,  perhaps  along  brooks 
or  ponds,  but  avoiding  almost  entirely  the  wetter,  more  open  localities, 
where  the  Swamp  Sparrow  is  at  home.  Attracted  by  a  sharp  chirp 
which,  at  times  reduplicated,  resembles  that  of  a  young  Chipping 
Sparrow,  we  may  succeed  in  catching  a  glimpse  of  him  as  he  lurks 
beneath  a  little  spruce  perhaps  no  bigger  than  an  umbrella. 

Sometimes  venturing  timidly  to  the  outer  boughs  of  a  spruce,  he 
surprises  the  hearer  with  a  most  unsparrowlike  song.  It  is  not  loud, 
and  suggests  the  bubbling,  guttural  notes  of  the  House  Wren,  com- 
bined with  the  sweet  rippling  music  of  the  Purple  Finch,  and  when 
you  think  the  song  is  done  there  is  an  unexpected  aftermath.  The 
birds  sing  very  little  and  at  long  intervals,  and  are  seldom  heard  dur- 
ing the  later  hours  of  the  day,  ceasing  at  once  if  anybody  approaches. 

J.  DwiGHT,  Jr. 

584.  Melospiza  georgiana  {LatTi.).  Swamp  Sparrow.  Ad.  in 
summer. — Crown  chestnut-rufous ;  forehead  black ;  a  grayish  line  over  the 
eye;  a  blackish  line  behind  the  eye;  nape  slaty  gray  with  a  few  black 
streaks;  feathers  of  the  back  broadly  streaked  with  black  and  margined 
with  rufous  and  cream-buff  or  ashy  buff;  wing-coverts  rufous,  the  greater 
ones  with  black  spots  at  their  tips ;  rump  rufous  grayish  brown,  sometimes 
streaked  with  black ;  tail  rufous  grayish  brown,  the  middle  feathers  darker 
along  their  shafts ;  throat  and  middle  of  the  belly  white,  breast  grayish,  sides 
washed  with  pale  grayish  brown.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Similar,  but  the 
top  of  the  head  streaked  with  black,  rufous-brown,  and  grayish ;  nape  less 
gray  ;  breast  washed  with  brownish.    L.,  5-89  ;  W.,  2'34;  T.,  2-32 ;  B.,  -46. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  northern  Illinois  and  Penn- 
sylvania northward  to  Labrador ;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  and  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Gulf. 

Washington,  very  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  to  May  15;  Sept.  25  to  Oct.  30;  a 
few  winter.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  4  to  Dec.  2;  a  few 
winter.     Cambridge,  abundant  S.  R.,  Apl.  12  to  Nov.  10 ;  a  few  winter. 

Nest.,  generally  similar  to  that  of  M.  fasciata.,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four 
to  live,  similar  in  color  to  those  of  M.  fasciata^  but  the  markings  are  generally 
more  confluent,  '76  x  57. 

While  wintering  in  the  south.  Swamp  Sparrows  frequently  belie 
their  name,  and  I  have  often  found  numbers  of  them  in  dry  "old 
fields"  of  broom  sedge;  but  at  the  north  they  are  more  consistent, 
and  one  rarely  sees  them  beyond  the  confines  of  a  wet  meadow,  or, 
more  preferably,  a  large  grassy  marsh  with  reed-bordered  streams. 

Swamp  Sparrows  may  be  distinguished  from  their  cousins,  the  Song 
Sparrows,  by  their  unstreaked  breasts  and  totally  different  notes.    Their 


FINCHES,   8PAKR0WS,   ETC. 


809 


usual  call-note  is  a  sharp  cheep,  not  unlike  that  of  the  White-throated 
Sparrow,  and  quite  different  from  the  rather  nasal  chomp  'of  the  Song 
Sparrow.  Their  song  is  a  simple,  sweet,  but  somewhat  monotonous 
tweet-tweet-tweet,  repeated  many  times,  all  on  one  note,  and  sometimes 
running  into  a  trill. 


Fig.  87.— Fox  Sparrow. 


(Natural  size.) 


Cambridge,  abundant  T.  V., 


585.  Passerella  iliaca  {Merr.).  Fox  Sparrow.  Ad. — Upper  parts 
rutbus-brown,  the  feathers  margined  by  cinnamon-brown ;  upper  tail-coverts 
and  tail  bright  rufous ;  wings  mar- 
gined with  rufous ;  under  parts  heavi- 
ly streaked  and  spotted  with  rufous- 
brown  and  blackish ;  middle  of  the 
belly  white ;  lower  mandible  yellow- 
ish. L.,  7-26;  W.,  3-39;  T.,  2-85;  B., 
•50. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  Magda- 
len Islands  and  Manitoba  to  Alaska ; 
winters  from  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  very  abundant  T.  V., 
Feb.  to  Apl.  5 ;  Oct.  25  to  Nov. ;  a  few 
winter.    Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common 
T.  v.,  Mch.  4  to  Apl.  20 ;  Oct.  14  to  Nov.  28. 
Mch.  15  to  Apl.  20 ;  Oct.  20  to  Nov.  15. 

Nest,  of  coarse  grasses,  lined  with  finer  grasses,  hair,  moss,  and  feathers,  on 
the  ground,  and  in  low  trees  and  bushes.  Eggs,  four  to  five,  pale  bluish,  evenly 
speckled  or  heavily  blotched  with  umber  or  vinaceous-brown,  -80  x  -63  (see 
Bendire,  Auk,  vi,  1889,  p.  108). 

In  the  early  spring  the  Fox  Sparrow  is  seen  mostly  about  damp 
thickets  and  roadside  shrubbery ;  later  it  takes  more  to  woodsides, 
foraging  on  leaf-strewn  slopes  where  there  is  little  or  no  undergrowth, 
often  associated  with  small  parties  of  Juncos.  On  its  return  in  the 
autumn  it  again  becomes  a  common  denizen  of  hedgerows  and  thickets, 
and  also  invades  the  weedy  grainfields,  rarely,  however,  straying  far 
from  some  thickety  cover.  Sometimes  large  numbers  congregate 
among  withered  growths  of  tall  weeds,  whence  they  emerge  with  a 
loud  whirring  of  wings  as  their  retreat  is  invaded,  and  hie  away  in 
tawny  clouds,  flock  after  flock.  It  is  a  great  scratcher  among  dead 
leaves,  and  can  make  the  wood  rubbish  fly  in  a  way  which,  in  propor- 
tion to  its  size,  a  barnyard  fowl  could  scarcely  excel. 

The  usual  note  of  the  Fox  Sparrow  is  a  feeble  tseep,  A  note  of 
excitement  is  londer  and  sharper  in  tone.  Its  song  is  not  surpassed 
by  that  of  any  of  our  Sparrows.  It  is  a  revelation  to  hear  it  at  sun- 
down on  some  vernally  softened  evening  of  early  springtime;  little 
swarms  of  gnats  hover  in  the  balmy  air ;  from  the  twilight  meadows 
comes  the  welcome,  half-doubtful  piping  of  the  first  hylas — no  other 


310  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

sound.  Then  perhaps  from  some  dusky  thicket  a  bird's  song !  An 
emotional  outburst  rising  full-toned  and  clear,  and  passing  all  too 
quickly  to  a  closing  cadence,  which  seems  to  linger  in  the  silent  air. 
It  is  the  song  of  the  Fox  Sparrow  with  that  fuller  power  and  richness 
of  tone  which  come  into  it,  or  seem  to,  at  the  sunset  hour.  It  breaks 
forth  as  if  inspired  from  pure  joy  in  the  awakened  season,  though  with 
some  vague  undertone,  scarcely  of  sadness,  rather  of  some  lower  tone 
of  joy.  Eugene  P.  Bicknell. 

587.  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  {Linn.).  Towhee;  Chewine; 
JoREE.  Ad.  $  . — Upper  parts  black,  sometimes  margined  with  rufous ;  throat 
and  breast  black,  belly  white,  sides  rufous ;  outer  web  of  primaries  mostly 
white;  tail  black,  the  three  outer  feathers  tipped  with  white;  outer  web  of 
the  outer  feather  entirely  white ;  iris  red.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts,  wings,  throat, 
and  breast  bright  grayish  brown ;  tail  fuscous,  the  three  outer  feathers  tipped 
with  white ;  sides  rufous,  middle  of  the  belly  white.  Young  in  first  plum- 
age have  the  back  and  under  parts  streaked  with  black.  L.,  8-35 ;  W.,  3-34  ; 
T.,  3-68;  B., -55. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  the  lower  Mississippi  Val- 
ley and  Georgia  northward  to  Maine,  Ontario,  and  Manitoba ;  winters  from 
Virginia  to  Florida. 

Washington,  common  S.  E.,  very  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  15  to  May  15  ;  Sept. 
to  Oct.  15 ;  a  few  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  21  to  Oct.  31. 
Cambridge,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  25  to  Oct.  15. 

Nest.,  externally  of  dead  leaves  and  strips  of  bark,  lined  with  fine  grasses, 
on  or  near  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white,  finely  and  evenly  speckled 
with  shades  of  rufous,  sometimes  blotched  at  the  larger  end,  -96  x  -71. 

There  is  a  vigorousness  about  the  Towhee's  notes  and  actions  which 
suggests  both  a  bustling,  energetic  disposition  and  a  good  constitu- 
tion. He  entirely  dominales  the  thicket  or  bushy  undergrowth  in 
which  he  makes  his  home.  The  dead  leaves  fly  before  his  attack ;  his 
white-tipped  tail-feathers  flash  in  the  gloom  of  his  haunts.  He  greets 
all  passers  with  a  brisk,  inquiring  chewink,  towhee,  and  if  you  pause 
to  reply,  withsi  fluff-fluff  of  his  short,  rounded  wings  he  flies  to  a  near- 
by limb  to  better  inspect  you. 

It  is  only  when  singing  that  the  Towhee  is  fully  at  rest.  Then  a 
change  comes  over  him ;  he  is  in  love,  and,  mounting  a  low  branch, 
he  gives  voice  to  his  passion  in  song.  I  have  long  tried  to  express 
the  Towhee's  song  in  words,  but  never  succeeded  as  well  as  Ernest 
Thompson  when  he  wrote  it  chuck-burr,  pill-a-will-a-will-a. 

587a/.  P.  e.  alleni  Coues.  White-eyed  Towhee  ;  Joree. — Similar  to 
the  preceding,  but  with  less  white  on  the  wings  and  tail ;  only  two  outer  tail- 
feathers  tipped  with  white  ;  iris  yellowish  or  white.  L.,  8*00 ;  W.,  3-20  ;  T., 
3-60;  B.,  -52. 

Range. — Florida ;  northward  along  the  coast  to  southern  South  Carolina. 


FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC.  311 

This  southern  race  of  the  Towhee  does  not  associate  with  the 
northern  bird,  which  is  abundant  in  the  south  in  the  winter. 

The  latter  selects  haunts  of  much  the  same  nature  as  those  in 
which  it  passes  the  summer,  while  the  southern  bird  lives  in  heavy- 
growths  of  scrub  palmetto.  The  notes  of  alleni  differ  from  those  of 
erythrophthalmus ;  its  towhee  is  much  higher,  and  its  song,  as  Dr. 
Allen  pointed  out  years  ago,  is  shorter.  It  is  also  a  shyer  bird  than 
its  northern  cousin. 

593.  Cardinalis  cardinalis  (Linn.).  Cakdinal.  Ad.  $  .—Throat 
and  region  about  the  base  of  the  bill  black ;  rest  of  the  plumage  bright  rosy 
red,  the  upper  parts  tipped  with  grayish  ;  a  conspicuous  crest ;  bill  red.  Ad. 
?  .—Throat  and  region  about  the  base  of  bill  grayish  black ;  crest,  wings, 
and  tail  dull  red  ;  upper  parts  olive  brownish  ash  ;  under  parts  bufty  ochra- 
ceous,  lighter  on  the  belly,  and  sometimes  tinged  with  red  on  the  breast.  L., 
8-25 ;  W.,  3-Y5  ;  T.,  4-00  ;  B.,  -64. 

Bange. — Eastern  United  States;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Iowa  and  south- 
ern New  York  ;  resident  throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  common  P.  K. ;  less  common  than  formerly.  Sing  Sing, 
A.  V.     Cambridge,  casual,  two  instances. 

Nest.,  of  twigs,  rootlets,  and  strips  of  bark,  lined  with  grasses  and  rootlets, 
in  bushes.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  white  or  bluish  white,  speckled  or  spotted 
with  grayish  brown,  cinnamon- brown,  or  umber,  1-00  x   70. 

One's  first  impression  of  the  Cardinal  Grosbeak  will  usually  be  that 
he  is  rather  a  clumsy  fellow.  His  body  appears  to  be  stiff,  as  if  it 
were  made  of  wood,  different  in  every  way  from  the  pliant,  lithe  body 
of  the  Catbird,  for  example.  He  hops  about  on  the  ground  with  tail 
held  well  up  out  of  harm's  way,  and  comes  heavily  down  upon  his 
feet,  as  if  his  body  were  really  very  solid.  In  fact,  he  is  not  at  all  a 
graceful  bird. 

He  is  a  famous  singer,  his  song  being  a  loud,  clear  whistle,  into 
which  usually  enters  quite  frequently  the  sound  oi  q  !  q  !  q  !  and  a 
peculiar  long-drawn-out  e-e  !  sometimes  syllabled  as  "  three  cheers  !  " 
He  is  a  favorite  cage-bird.  The  female  Cardinal  is  herself  a  charming 
singer,  more  pleasing  to  many  than  her  mate,  her  music  being  softer 
in  tone  and  otherwise  different  from  his.  The  common  call-note  of 
both  is  a  sharp,  abrupt  tsip !  easily  recognized  after  being  once 
heard. 

As  the  head  of  a  family  the  Cardinal  is  admirable,  not  only  in  his 
attentions  to  his  lovely  dove-colored  mate,  but  in  singing  to  her  by  the 
hour,  and  in  protecting  her  from  intrusion  or  danger.  To  the  young  in 
the  nest  he  is  an  untiring  provider  of  worms  and  grubs,  and  thus  most 
useful  in  a  garden.  Nothing  can  be  more  comical  than  his  behavior 
when  he  first  conducts  his  young  family  out  into  the  world  while  his 
mate  is  engaged  with  her  second  sitting.     He  is  as  fussy  as  any  young 


312  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

mother,  hopping  about  in  great  excitement,  and  appearing  to  think 
the  whole  world  thirsting  for  the  life  of  his  pretty  little  ones. 

The  Cardinal  mother  shows  the  restless  manners  and  anxious  spirit 
of  her  mate,  taking  one's  intrusion  upon  her  domestic  affairs  greatly 
to  heart,  and  being  so  much  disturbed  that  there  is  more  pain  than 
pleasure  in  making  acquaintance  with  her  nestlings. 

Olive  Thorne  Miller. 

595.  Ha/bia/ ludovicia<na>  (Z^n/2^.).  Eose-breasted  Grosbeak.  Ad. 
S  . — Head,  throat,  aud  back  black ;  breast  and  under  wing-coverts  bright 
rose-red,  this  color  sometimes  extending  down  the  center  of  the  white  belly ; 
rump  white,  tipped  with  black ;  wings  black ;  primaries  white  at  the  base ; 
tail  black,  the  outer  feathers  tipped  with  white  on  the  inner  web.  Ad.  9  . — 
Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  margined  with  cream-buff  and  pale  grayioh 
brown ;  a  buffy  line  through  the  center  of  the  crown,  and  a  conspicuous 
whitish  line  over  the  eye;  wings  and  tail  dark  grayish  brown;  wing- coverts 
tipped  with  white ;  under  wing-coverts  orange  ;  under  parts  buffy,  streaked 
with  dark  grayish  brown.  Im.  ^  . — Kesembles  the  9  ,  but  has  the  under 
wing-coverts  rose-red.     L.,  8-12 ;  W.,  4-02  ;  T.,  2-99  ;  B.,  -69. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  eastern  Kansas  and  the 
higher  altitudes  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  northward  to  Maine  and 
Manitoba;  winters  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Washington,  rather  common  T.  V.,  May  1  to  20 ;  Aug.  25  to  Oct.  1.  Sing 
Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  E.,  May  3  to  Oct.  1.  Cambridge,  common  S.  E., 
May  10  to  Sept.  10. 

Nest.^  of  fine  twigs,  weed  stalks,  and  rootlets,  in  bashes  or  trees,  five  to 
twenty  feet  up.  Eggs^  four  to  five,  pale  blue,  with  numerous  olive-brown  or 
rufous-brown  markings,  -90  x  -69. 

Sometimes  in  passing  through  young  second  growths,  and  more 
rarely  densely  undergrown  woodland,  I  hear  a  singular  kind  of  ques- 
tioning call-note,  not  loud,  but  distinct — a  steely  peek,  peek.  It  is  a 
signal  to  me  to  pause  and  look  for  its  author ;  even  a  glimpse  of  him 
is  worth  several  minutes'  waiting  and  watching.  There  is  no  mistak- 
ing his  black,  white,  and  rose  costume ;  but  the  identity  of  his  more 
modestly  attired  mate  may  long  remain  an  open  question.  So  little 
does  she  resemble  him  that  she  might  pass  for  an  overgrown  Sparrow 
with  a  rather  conspicuous  whitish  stripe  over  her  eye. 

The  song  of  the  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  is  generally  compared  to 
that  of  the  Robin,  and  musical  annotation  would  doubtless  show  that 
the  comparison  is  not  misleading.  But  the  similarity  is  largely  one  of 
form ;  in  expression  there  is  no  more  resemblance  in  their  A^oices  than 
there  is  between  the  birds  themselves.  There  is  an  exquisite  purity  in 
the  joyous  carol  of  the  Grosbeak ;  his  song  tells  of  all  the  gladness  of 
a  May  morning  ;  I  have  heard  few  happier  strains  of  bird  music. 
With  those  who  are  deaf  to  its  message  of  good  cheer  I  can  only  sym- 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  313 

pathize,  pitying  the  man  whose  heart  does  not  leap  with  enthusiasm 
at  the  sight  of  rival  males  dashing  through  the  woods  like  winged 
meteors,  leaving  in  their  wake  a  train  of  sparkling  notes. 

The  Black-headed  Grosbeak  {596.  Habia  rnelanocepTiala)^  a  western 
species,  has  been  recorded  from  Michigan. 

597.  Guiraca  cserulea  {Linn.).  Blue  Grosbeak.  Ad.  ^  . — Deep 
blue ;  lores  and  chin  black  ;  back  blackish ;  wings  and  tail  black,  slightly 
edged  with  blue ;  middle  wing-coverts  widely,  and  greater  coverts  narrowly 
tipped  with  chestnut-rufous.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts  grayish  brown ;  in  some 
specimens  more  or  less  blue  about  the  head  and  rump  and  lesser  wing-cov- 
erts; rump  inclined  to  ashy;  wings  fuscous,  the  greater  and  middle  coverts 
tipped  with  ochraceous-buff ;  tail  fuscous,  slightly  margined  with  bluish  gray  ; 
under  parts  brownish  cream-bufi",  the  feathers  of  the  breast  sometimes  blue  at 
the  base.    Jm.  5  .— Eesembles  the  $  .    L.,  7*00 ;  W.,  3-50 ;  T.,  2-75 ;  B.,  -65. 

Range. — United  States ;  breeds  from  about  latitude  38°  southward  into 
Mexico ;  winters  south  of  our  limits. 

Washington,  very  uncommon  S.  R.,  May  1  to  Sept.  30.  Cambridge,  A.  V., 
one  instance.  May. 

Nest.^  of  grasses,  in  bushes  or  high  weedy  growths.  Eggs.,  three  to  four, 
pale  bluish  white,  '84  x  -65. 

"  Unless  seen  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  the  adult 
male  does  not  appear  to  be  blue,  but  of  an  ill-defined,  dusky  color,  and 
may  easily  be  mistaken  for  a  Cow  Blackbird  {Molothrus  ater),  unless 
most  carefully  watched  ;  besides,  they  usually  sit  motionless,  in  a 
watchful  attitude,  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  and  thus  easily 
escape  observation. 

"  The  Blue  Grosbeak  frequents  much  the  same  localities  as  those 
selected  by  the  Indigo  Bird  and  Field  Sparrow — viz.,  the  thickets  of 
shrubs,  briers,  and  tall  weeds  lining  a  stream  flowing  across  a  meadow 
or  bordering  a  field,  or  the  similar  growth  which  has  sprung  up  in  an 
old  clearing.  The  usual  note  is  a  strong,  harsh  ptcMck,  and  the  song 
of  the  male  is  a  very  beautiful  though  rather  feeble  warble,  somewhat 
like  that  of  the  Purple  Finch,  but  bearing  a  slight  resemblance  also  to 
that  of  the  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  "  (Ridgway). 

598.  Pa/SSerinai  cyaneai  {Linn.).     Indigo  Bunting  ;  Indigo-bird. 

Ad.  i  . — Rich  blue,  deeper  on  the  head,  brighter  on  the  hack  ;  lores  blackish  ; 
wings  and  tail  black,  margined  with  blue.  Ad.  9 . — Upper  parts  uniform 
grayish  brown  without  streaks ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous,  sometimes  lightly 
margined  with  bluish ;  wing-coverts  margined  with  grayish  brown ;  under 
parts  whitish,  washed  with  grayish  brown  and  indistinctly  streaked  with 
darker;  belly  whiter.  Im. — Resembles  the  9  ,  but  is  darker.  Ad.  6  in  win- 
ter.— Resembles  the  9  ,  but  has  more  or  less  blue  in  the  plumage.  L.,  5-59  ,• 
W.,  2-58 ;  T.,  2-11 ;  B.,  -41. 


314  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,   ETC. 

Remai'hs. — The  female  of  this  species  is  rather  a  puzzling  bird,  and  may  be 
mistaken  for  a  Sparrow.  Its  unstreaked  back  and  the  slight  tinge  of  blue 
generally  present  on  the  outer  web  of  the  wing-  and  tail-feathers  should  serve 
to  distinguish  it. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States  ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Minnesota  and 
Nova  Scotia ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  28  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  K., 
May  4  to  Oct.  17.     Cambridge,  rather  common  S.  E.,  May  15  to  Sept.  25. 

Nest^  of  grasses,  bits  of  dead  leaves,  and  strips  of  bark,  lined  with  fine 
grasses,  rootlets,  and  long  hairs,  generally  in  the  crotch  of  a  bush  near  the 
ground.     Eggs.^  three  to  four,  pale  bluish  white,  -73  x  -57. 

In  walking  among  clumps  of  bushes  in  clearings  or  old  pastures- 
look  sharp  if  a  small  brown  bird  flies  before  you,  especially  if  she  calls 
cheep  and  twitches  her  tail  nervously  from  side  to  side.  Though  she 
be  a  sparrowy-looking  bird,  look  well  to  her  shoulders  and  tail.  If  you 
discover  a  glint  of  blue  and  her  cries  call  her  mate,  you  will  ever  after 
be  a  more  trustworthy  observer — for  his  brilliant  coat  is  unmistakable. 

Having  made  sure  of  your  birds,  watch  them  to  their  nest — a  com- 
pactly made  cup — too  cleverly  hidden  in  the  dense  green  thicket  to  be 
easily  discovered.  The  color  of  the  eggs  will  again  test  your  accuracy 
of  observation ;  in  varying  lights  they  look  green,  blue,  and  white. 

The  female  Indigo  is  so  suspicious  that  it  is  hard  not  to  be  vexed 
with  her,  but  the  primary  virtues  of  an  observer  are  conscientiousness 
and  patience  ;  so  take  your  hard  cases  as  a  means  of  grace. 

However  distrustful  the  poor  mother  bird  is,  her  mate's  cheery  song 
makes  up  for  it  all.  After  most  birds  have  stopped  singing  for  the 
year,  his  merry  voice  still  gladdens  the  long  August  days. 

I  well  remember  watching  one  Indigo-bird  who,  day  after  day,  used 
to  fly  to  the  lowest  limb  of  a  high  tree  and  sing  his  way  up  from 
branch  to  branch,  bursting  into  jubilant  song  when  he  reached  thr 
topmost  bough.  I  watched  him  climb  as  high  into  the  air  as  he  could, 
when,  against  a  background  of  blue  sky  and  rolling  white  clouds,  the 
blessed  little  songster  broke  out  into  the  blithest  round  that  ever  bub 
bled  up  from  a  glad  heart.  Florence  A.  Merriam. 

The  Varied  Bunting  {600.  Passerina  versicolor).,  a  species  of  our  Mexican 
border,  has  been  once  recorded  from  Michigan. 

601.  Pa/Sserinai  ciris  {Linn.).  Painted  Bunting;  Nonpareil. 
Ad.  t . — Head  and  sides  of  the  neck  indigo-blue ;  back  golden  green ;  rump 
dull  red  ;  under  parts  bright  red ;  wings  and  tail  tinged  with  dull  red ;  greater 
wing-coverts  green.  Ad.  9. — Cpper  parts  bright  olive-green;  under  parts 
white,  washed  with  greenish  yellow ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous,  margined  with 
olive-green.    L.,  5-25  ;  W.,  2-70 ;  T.,  2-15  ;  B.,  -42. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  northward  to  Kansas,  southern  Illi- 
nois, and  North  Carolina ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 


FINCHES,   SPARROWS,   ETC.  315 

Nest^  similar  to  that  of  P.  cyanea^  in  bushes  or  low  trees.  Eggs^  three  to 
four,  white  or  bluish  white,  with  numerous  chestnut  or  rufous-brown  mark- 
ings, -78  X  -56. 

Mr.  Maynard  found  this  species  in  southern  Florida  in  January,  but 
it  does  not  migrate  northward  until  about  May  1.  He  writes  that  it 
"  is  always  shy  and  retiring,  seldom  appearing  in  the  open,  but  remain- 
ing in  the  dense,  thorny  undergrowth  which  covers  all  waste  places  in 
Florida,  especially  if  the  soil  has  been  cultivated.  Whenever  the  birds 
perceive  an  intruder  they  retire  into  the  depths  of  these  fastnesses,  and 
it  requires  considerable  beating  to  drive  them  out,  when  they  at  once 
dart  into  the  nearest  cover.  The  adult  males  are  especially  shy,  and 
seldom  show  themselves.  Even  while  singing  they  remained  concealed, 
and,  although  we  were  thus  furnished  with  a  clew  to  their  whereabouts, 
it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  we  caught  sight  of  the  authors 
of  the  harmonious  strains  which  nearly  always  greeted  our  ears  when 
we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  their  homes"  (Birds  of  Eastern  North 
America.) 

"Their  notes  very  much  resemble  those  of  the  Indigo-bird,  but 
lack  their  energy  and  are  more  feeble  and  concise"  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

The  Grassquit  {603.  Euetheia  bicolor)  and  the  Melodious  Grassquit 
(603.1.  E.  canorn).,  West  Indian  species,  have  each  been  recorded  once  from 
the  Florida  Keys. 

604*  Spiza    a>inericaina    {Gmel.).      Dickcissel;    Black-throated 
Bunting.     Ad.  3  . — Head  and  sides  of  the  neck  ashy  gray ;  forehead  tinged 
with  yellow  ;  a  yellow  line  over  the 
eye   and   one  on  the  side  of  the 
throat ;  a  black  patch  on  the  throat ; 
chin  white ;  breast  yellow,  spread- 
ing down  on  to  the  white   belly; 
back  streaked  with  black  and  pale 
grayish    brown  ;    rump    brownish 
ash ;    lesser    wing-coverts    rufous ; 
wings  and  tail  fuscous.     Ad.  v . — 
Similar,     but     the     head     grayish 
brown,  streaked  with  blackish,  and        fig.  88.--Dickcissel.    (Natural  size.) 
with  no  black  patch  on  the  throat 

and  less  yellow  on  the  breast,  which  is  sometimes  lightly  streaked  with 
black.  Ad.  in  /a^/.— Much  brighter,  and  with  some  rufous  in  the  back.  L., 
6-00;  W.,  3-20;  T.,  2-35;  B.,  -55. 

^aw.^«.— Eastern  United  States,  mostly  in  the  Mississippi  Valley ;  breeds 
from  Texas  to  Minnesota ;  winters  in  Central  and  South  America ;  breeds 
east  of  the  Alleghanies  now  only  rarely  and  locally. 

Washington,  very  rare  S.  E.,  a  few  seen  each  year;  formerly  "  very  abun- 
dant."    Cambridge,  casual,  found  nesting  at  Medford,  June  9,  1877,  where 


1 

-  mmmarmaam  — — j    — 

*- 1 

ar 

316  TANAGERS. 

several  birds  were  observed ;  not  uncommon  in  1833-'34  (see  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn. 
Club,  iii,  1878,  pp.  45,  190). 

JVest,  bulky,  of  coarse  grasses  and  leaves,  lined  with  finer  grasses  and 
sometimes  long  hairs,  on  tlie  ground  or  in  low  trees  or  bushes,  J^V^s,  four 
to  five,  pale  blue,  -80  x  -60. 

Thirty  to  forty  years  ago  these  birds  were  more  or  less  common  in 
the  middle  Atlantic  States,  but  they  are  now  of  rare  occurrence  east 
of  the  Alleghanies.  In  Texas  I  have  seen  them  migrating  in  closely 
massed  flocks  of  several  hundred  individuals,  ail  silent,  except  for  an 
occasional  each  They  alight  on  the  prairie  to  feed  ;  birds  in  the  rear 
are  constantly  arising  and  passing  to  the  front ;  there  is  ceaseless  mo- 
tion. 

In  the  summer  Dickcissel  makes  his  home  in  grassy  fields  and 
pastures,  and  from  a  weed  stalk  or  bordering  fence,  with  uplifted  head, 
he  announces  his  presence  as  though  life  itself  depended  on  his  vocal 
exertions.     It  is  a  poor  song  from  a  musical  standpoint,  but  pleasing 

because  of  the  singer's  earnestness : 

The  Lark  Bunting  (605.  Calamospiza  melanocorys)^  a  western  species, 
has  been  recorded  from  Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  and  South  Carolina. 

Family  Tanagrid^.  Tanagers. 

The  Tanagers  form  a  distinctively  American  family,  and  are  most 
abundant  in  the  tropics.  About  three  hundred  and  fifty  species  are 
known,  of  which  only  five  reach  the  United  States.  They  are  re- 
markable, as  a  whole,  for  the  brilliancy  of  their  plumage,  and  our 
Scarlet  Tanager  is  therefore  no  exception  to  the  rule. 

They  are  arboreal  and  for  the  most  part  forest-inhabiting,  feeding 
on  flowers,  fruit,  and  insects.  The  tropical  species  are  of  a  roving  dis- 
position, and  wander  through  the  forests  in  search  of  certain  trees 
bearing  ripe  fruit,  near  which  they  may  always  be  found  in  num- 
bers. 

As  a  rule  they  are  not  musical.  A  few  species  have  more  or  less 
pleasing  songs,  but  the  voices  of  the  majority  are  weak  and  squeaky. 

KEY    TO    THE    SPECIES. 

A.  With  red  in  the  plumage, 

a.  Wings  and  tail  black 608.  Scarlet  Tanager  $  . 

b.  Wings  and  tail  like  the  body 610.  Summer  Tanager  $  . 

B.  Without  red  in  the  plumage. 

a.  Under  parts,  Including  under  wlng-coverts,  dull  buH'y  yellow. 

610.  Summer  Tanager  9. 
h.  Under  parts  greenish  yellow,  under  wing-coverts  white. 

608.  Scarlet  Tanager  ?. 


TANAGERS.  31Y 

608.  Piranga  erjjrthromelas  Vieill.  Scarlet  Tanager.  (See 
Fig.  48.)  Ad.  <J  . — Bright  scarlet,  wings  and  tail  black,  under  wing-coverts 
white.  Ad.  $  . — Upper  parts  light  olive-green  ;  wings  and  tail. fuscous,  lightly 
margined  with  olive-green ;  under  parts  greenish  yellow.  Im.  $  and  Ad.  i 
in  winter. — Similar  to  the  2,  but  wings  and  tail  black.  L.,  7"25;  W.,  3'75; 
T.,  2-09  ;  B.  from  N.,  -46. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  southern  Illinois  and  Vir- 
ginia to  Manitoba  and  New  Brunswick;  winters  in  Central  and  northern 
South  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  rare  S.  K.,  Apl.  28  to  Oct.  7.  Sing  Sing,  com- 
mon S.  R.,  May  4  to  Oct.  9.    Cambridge,  rather  common  S.  R.,  May  12  to  Oct.  1. 

Nest.,  of  fine  twigs  and  weed  stalks,  lined  with  vine  tendrils  and  blossom 
stems,  generally  near  the  end  of  a  horizontal  limb,  seven  to  twenty  feet  up. 
Eggs.,  three  to  four,  pale  bluish  white  or  greenish  blue,  with  numerous  rufous 
or  rufous-brown  markings,  -88  x  -es. 

In  watching  birds,  there  are  certain  sights  and  sounds  that  make  a 
day  memorable  much  as  a  beautiful  sunset  does.  I  say  to  myself, 
"  I  have  seen  a  Scarlet  Tanager  to-day  ! "  or,  "  I  have  listened  to  a 
Hermit  Thrush  this  evening." 

High  among  the  tree  tops  of  the  cool  green  woods  the  Tanager 
sings  through  the  summer  days.  Hidden  by  the  network  of  leaves 
above  us,  we  often  pass  him  by;  but  once  discovered  he  seems  to 
illuminate  the  forest.  We  marvel  at  his  color.  He  is  like  a  Bird  of 
Paradise  in  our  northern  landscape. 

We  are  first  guided  to  him  by  his  call  and  song.  They  are  pecul- 
iar, and  both  have  a  rare  woods  flavor.  The  call  is  a  distinctly  uttered 
chip-chirr.  The  song  is  a  loud,  cheery,  rhythmical  carol,  suggesting 
the  song  of  the  Robin. 

Inside  the  green  woods  the  Tanager  spends  the  summer,  flying 
down  to  visit  his  nest  in  the  fresh  young  undergrowth  or  to  bathe  in 
the  still  forest  pools,  and  hunting  and  singing  in  the  tree  tops  high 
overhead.  Florence  A.  Merriam. 

610*  Piranga  rubra  {Linn.).  Summer  Tanager.  Ad.  5. — Rose- 
red,  brighter  below ;  wings  fuscous,  margined  with  rose-red.  Ad.  $  . — Upper 
parts  orange  olive-green  ;  under  parts  yellowish  orange.  Im.  4  . — Resembles 
the  9  .    L.,  7-50 ;  W.,  3-75  ;  T.,  2-90 ;  B.  from  N.,  -55. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States;  breeds  from  Florida  to  southern  New 
Jersey,  wandering  casually  to  Nova  Scotia;  winters  in  Central  and  South 
America. 

Washington,  uncommon  S.  R.,  Apl.  28  to  Sept.  15. 

Nest.,  of  leaves,  strips  of  bark,  etc.,  generally  near  the  extremity  of  a  limb, 
about  twenty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  bluish  white  or  greenish  blue,  with 
numerous  cinnamon-  or  olive-brown  markings,  •96  x  -68. 

This  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  our  Southern  States,  arriving 
in  Florida  early  in  April.     It  frequents  open,  rather  than  dense  woods, 


318 


SWALLOWS. 


and  is  particularly  numerous  in  pineries  having  an  undergrowth  of 
oaks.  It  may  be  easily  identified,  not  alone  by  its  color  but  by  its 
unique  call-note — a  clearly  enunciated  chicky-tucky-tuck.  Its  song 
bears  a  general  resemblance  to  that  of  the  Scarlet  Tanager,  but  to 
my  ear  is  much  sweeter  and  less  forced. 

The  Louisiana  Tanager  {607.  Piranga  ludovicia/ia),  a  species  of  our 
Western  States,  has  been  recorded  from  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and  New 
York. 

Family  Hirundinid^.    Swallows. 

About  eighty  species  of  Swallows  are  known.  They  are  distributed 
throughout  the  world.  In  their  long,  powerful  wings  and  small,  weak 
feet  Swallows  present  an  excellent  illustration  of  the  effects  of  use  and 
disuse.  The  greater  part  of  their  day  is  passed  on  the  wing,  and  in 
alighting  they  select  a  perch  which  they  can  grasp  with  ease. 


Fig.  89.— Barn  Swallow.        Cliff  Swallow. 


Tree  Swallow. 
Bank  Swallow. 


Swallows  live  almost  exclusively  upon  insects,  which  they  capture 
on  the  wing,  their  large  mouths,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Swifts  and  Goat- 
suckers, being  especially  adapted  to  this  mode  of  feeding. 

They  nest  both  in  pairs  and  colonies,  and  during  their  migrations 
associate  in  countless  numbers  at  regularly  frequented  roosting  places 
or  migration  stations,  which  are  sometimes  in  trees,  but  more  often  in 
marshes,  and  to  which  they  regularly  return  each  night.  They  mi- 
grate, as  far  as  known,  entirely  by  day,  their  wonderful  power  of  flight 
enabling  them  to  escape  the  dangers  which  beset  less  rapid  fliers. 


SWALLOWS.  319 


KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Upper  parts  with  metallic  reflections. 

a.  Under  parts  steel-blue. 

ai.  Feathers  on  the  belly  fuscous  at  the  base    .     611.  Purple  Martin  $ . 
a*.  Feathers  on  the  belly  white  at  the  base  .     .   611.1.  Cuban  Martin  $  . 

b.  Throat  chestnut,  rufous,  or  brownish. 

&i.  Upper  tail-coverts  the  same  as  the  back  ;  tail  with  white  spots. 

613.  Barn  Swallow. 
ft2.  Upper  tail-coverts  rufous  or  bufty  ;  no  white  in  the  tail. 

612.  Cliff  Swallow. 

c.  Throat  gray  or  white. 

c^.  Entire  under  parts  white .    .    / 614.  Tree  Swallow. 

c-a.  Throat  and  breast  brownish  gray  ....     611.  Purple  Martin  9 . 

c3.  Throat,  breast,  and  sides  sooty  brownish  gray. 

611.1.  Cuban  Martin  $. 
B.  Upper  parts  without  metallic  reflections. 

a.  Under  parts  entirely  white 614.  Tree  Swallow. 

b.  Throat  and  breast  brownish  gray     .     .      617.  Eough- winged  Swallow. 

c.  Throat  and  belly  white ;  a  brownish  gray  band  across  the  breast. 

616.  Bank  Swallow. 

611.  Progne  subis  {Linn.).  Purple  Martin.  Ad.  3  .—Shining 
blue-black;  wings  and  tail  duller.  Ad.  ?  . — Upper  parts  glossy  bluish  black, 
duller  than  in  the  3  ;  wings  and  tail  black  ;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  brownish 
gray,  more  or  less  tipped  with  white;  belly  white.  Im. — Eesembles  the  9. 
L.,  8-00 ;  W.,  5-80  ;  T.,  2-90  ;  B.  from  N.,  -32. 

Range. — North  America,  north  to  Newfoundland  and  the  Saskatchewan; 
breeds  throughout  its  range ;  winters  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Washington,  rather  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  12  to  Sept.  5.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably 
common  S.  R.,  Apl.  27  to  Sept.  11.  Cambridge,  locally  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  20 
to  Aug.  25. 

Nest.,  of  straws,  twigs,  etc.,  in  houses  or  gourds  erected  for  the  purpose. 
Eggs.,  four  to  flve,  white,  I'OO  x  •73. 

The  Purple  Martin  is  very  common  throughout  the  south,  and 
breeds  wherever  gourds  or  boxes  are  erected  for  its  occupation.  In 
the  Northern  States  it  is  a  comparatively  rare  bird  of  local  distribu- 
tion, and  is  apparently  decreasing  in  numbers  each  year. 

In  Forest  and  Stream,  vol.  xxii,  1884,  p.  484,  Mr.  Otto  Widmann, 
of  Old  Orchard.  Missouri,  presents  an  interesting  table  showing  how 
often  young  Martins  are  fed.  He  watched  a  colony  of  sixteen  pairs 
of  birds  from  4  a.  m.  to  8  p.  m.,  during  which  time  the  parents  visited 
their  offspring  3,277  times,  or  an  average  of  205  times  for  each  pair. 
The  males  made  1,454,  the  females  1,823  visits. 

611.1.  Progne  cryptoleuca  Baird.  Cuban  Martin.  Ad.  $. — 
"  Similar  to  P.  subis,  but  feathers  of  ventral  region  marked  beneath  surface, 
with  a  broad  spot'  or  bar  of  white."     Ad.  9  and  im.  $  . — Similar  to  those  of 


320  SWALLOWS. 

f*.  subis^  but  "  whole  under  portion  and  sides  of  head  and  neck,  chest,  sides, 
and  flanks  uniform  sooty  grayish  brown,  in  marked  contrast  with  pure  white 
of  belly,  anal  region,  and  under  tail-coverts.  L.,  7"60;  W.,  5-50;  T.,  3-10" 
(Bidgtv.). 

Eange. — Southern  Florida  south  to  Cuba  and  probably  Central  America. 

Ifesting  similar  to  that  of  P.  suhis. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  Florida  from  Pasco  County  south- 
ward, arriving  in  March.     It  resembles  P.  suhis  in  habits. 

612.  Petrochelidon  luni&ons  {Say).  Cliff  Swallow;  Eavb 
Swallow.  Ad. — Forehead  whitish,  crown  steel-blue,  throat  and  sides  of 
the  head  chestnut ;  a  brownish  gray  ring  around  the  neck  ;  breast  brownish 
gray,  tinged  with  rufous  and  with  a  steel-blue  patch  in  its  center;  belly 
white ;  back  steel-blue,  lightly  streaked  with  white ;  shorter  upper  tail- 
coverts  pale  rufous  ;  tail  fuscous,  the  feathers  of  nearly  equal  length.  Im. — 
Similar,  but  upper  parts  duller  ;  throat  black,  sometimes  mottled  with  white. 
L.,  6-01 ;  W.,  4-34;  T.,  2-01 ;  B.  from  N.,  -20. 

Kemarks. — The  Cliff  Swallow  may  be  known  from  our  other  Swallows 
by  its  rufous  upper  tail-coverts. 

Bange. — North  America,  north  to  Labrador,  and,  in  the  interior,  to  the 
Arctic  Ocean  ;  breeds  throughout  its  range ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  rare  S.  R.,  Apl.  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  K.,  May  1  to 
Sept.  12.  Cambridge,  S.  E.,  much  less  common  than  formerly,  Apl.  28  to 
Sept.  1. 

Nest^  of  mud,  generally  retort-  or  pocket -shaped,  beneath  clills  or  the  eaves 
of  a  barn  or  other  building.  Eggs.,  four  to  Ave,  white,  with  numerous  spots 
of  cinnamon-,  olive-,  or  rufous-brown,  -81  x  -55. 

During  the  nesting  season  these  Swallows  are  of  very  local  distri- 
bution. They  will  return  year  after  year  to  their  rows  of  mud  tene- 
ments beneath  the  eaves  of  some  barn  or  outbuilding,  and,  although 
familiar  birds  to  residents  of  the  immediate  vicinity,  they  may  be 
entire  strangers  to  those  who  have  never  had  a  colony  of  these  birds 
settled  near  them. 

Like  Barn  Swallows,  they  are  masons,  and  they  may  be  seen  on 
muddy  shores  rolling  the  little  pellets  of  clay  which  enter  into  the 
construction  of  their  nest. 

In  the  fall  they  are  found  in  flocks  with  other  Swallows,  but  at  all 
times  they  may  be  readily  identified  by  their  pale  rufous  upper  tail- 
coverts,  which  make  a  conspicuous  field-mark. 

The  Cuban  Cliff  Swallow  (5i^.i.  Petrochelido7i  fulva)  \i2iB  been  once 
recorded  from  the  Dry  Tortugas,  Florida  (Scott,  Auk,  vii,  1890,  p.  265). 

613.  Chelidon  erjrthrogaster  (Bodd.).  Barn  Swallow.  Ad.— 
Forehead,  throat,  and  upper  breast  chestnut-rufous;  rest  of  the  under  parts 
washed  with  the  same  color;  upper  parts  steel-blue;  tail  deeply  forked,  all 
but  the  middle  feathers  with  white  spots  on  their  inner  webs.    Jm. — Upper 


SWALLOWS.  321 

parts  mixed  with  dusky,  forehead  and  throat  paler ;  outer  tail-feathers  shorter. 
L.,  6-95  ;  W.,  4-67  ;  T.,  3-30  ;  B.  from  N.,  -24. 

Range. — North  America,  north  to  Greenland  and  Alaska;  breeds  through- 
out the  greater  part  of  its  range ;  winters  as  far  south  as  southern  Brazil. 

Washington,  common  S.  R.,  more  abundant  T.  V.,  Mch.  28  to  Sept.  Sing 
Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  15  to  Sept.  22.  Cambridge,  common  S.  R.,  but  fast 
decreasing,  Apl.  20  to  Sept.  10. 

Nest^  of  mud  and  grasses,  lined  with  grasses  and  feathers,  generally  on  ihe 
rafter  of  a  barn  or  other  building.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  white,  with  numerous 
spots  of  cinnamon-,  olive-,  or  rufous-brown,  generally  smaller  than  those  on 
the  eggs  of  P.  lunifrons.,  '77  x  '54. 

Barn  Swallows  nest  both  in  pairs  and  colonies,  and  during  the 
breeding  season  are  more  generally  distributed  than  any  of  our  Swal- 
lows. Almost  every  old-fashioned  barn  with  its  great  doors  hospita- 
bly opened  is  cheered  by  their  sweet  call-notes  and  happy  twittering 
song  as  they  dart  in  and  out  on  their  errands  of  love. 

Barn  Swallows  take  first  rank  among  a  family  of  birds  famous  for 
their  power  of  flight.  While  their  relatives  are  circling  about  feeding 
on  insects  in  the  air  above,  they  capture  their  prey  nearer  the  ground, 
skimming  low  over  the  fields,  turning  quickly  to  right  or  left,  up  or 
down,  and  pursuing  their  erratic  course  with  marvelous  ease  and  grace. 

614.  Tachycineta  bicolor  {VieilL).  Tree  Swallow;  White- 
bellied  Swallow.  Ad. —  Upper  parts  steel-blue  or  steel-green;  under  parts 
pure  white  ;  outer  tail-feathers  somewhat  longer  than  the  middle  ones.  Itn. 
— Upper  parts  brownish  gray ;  under  parts  pure  white.  L.,  5'90 ;  W.,  4-70 ; 
T.,  2-35 ;  B.  from  N.,  -22. 

Range. — North  America,  north  to  Labrador  and  Alaska;  breeds  locally 
throughout  its  range ;  winters  from  South  Carolina  southward. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  1  to  May  25 ;  July  10  to  Sept.  Sing 
Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  4  to  May  26 ;  Aug.  4  to  Oct.  16.  Cambridge,  S.  R., 
formerly  common,  now  common  only  as  a  migrant,  Apl.  5  to  Oct.  12. 

N'est.,  of  coarse  grasses  and  feathers,  in  a  hollow  tree  or  bird-box.  Eggs, 
four  to  seven,  white,  -74  x  -55. 

While  our  eastern  Barn  and  Eave  Swallows  have  abandoned  their 
primitive  methods  of  nesting  in  caves  or  beneath  cliffs,  and  the  Bank 
Swallows  still  adhere  to  the  customs  of  their  ancestors,  Tree  Swallows 
are  passing  through  a  transition  period  in  their  history.  Some  accept 
the  houses  or  boxes  erected  by  man  as  substitutes  for  the  holes  in  trees 
or  stumps  which  others  still  use. 

Near  New  York  city  they  are  the  first  birds  to  flock  after  the  nest- 
ing season,  and  they  begin  to  gather  in  our  marshes  as  early  as  July 
1.  Their  numbers  rapidly  increase,  and  the  maximum  of  abundance 
is  reached  about  August  15,  when  they  outnumber  all  other  Swallows 
together  by  at  least  three  to  one.  They  return  to  their  roosts  in  the 
22 


322  SWALLOWS. 

reeds  with  great  regularity  every  night,  and  early  in  the  morning  fly 
out  over  the  country  to  feed.  Their  flight  in  the  evening  is  com- 
paratively low,  at  an  average  height  of  thirty  to  forty  feet.  They  sail 
about  in  circles  more  than  other  Swallows,  and  many  pause  to  rest 
on  telegraph  wires,  where  their  pure  white  breasts  easily  distinguish 
them  from  the  Swallows  which  may , be  associated  with  them.  In  the 
morning  their  flight  is  much  higher  and  more  direct.  They  migrate 
by  day,  leaving  their  roosting  ground  in  flocks,  which  sometimes  con- 
tain myriads,  and,  after  attaining  a  great  height,  pursue  their  journey 
to  the  south.  When  migrating  along  the  coast  they  sometimes  collect 
in  large  numbers  in  bayberry  bushes  {Ifyrica  cerifera)  and  feed  on 
their  fruit. 

The  Bahama  Swallow  (615.1.  CalUchelidon  eyaneoviridis)  has  been  once 
recorded  from  the  Dry  Tortugas,  Florida,  and  may  occur  more  or  less  regularly 
in  the  keys  oif  southeastern  Florida  (Scott,  Auk,  vii,  1890,  p.  265). 

616.  Clivicola  riparia  {Linn.).  Bank  Swallow.  J[d— Upper 
parts  brownish  gray ;  throat  white ;  a  brownish  gray  band  on  the  breast ; 
outer  vane  of  first  primary  without  recurved  booklets ;  a  small  tuft  of  feathers 
above  the  hind  toe.     L.,  5-20;  W.,  3-95  ;  T.,  2-00  ;  B.  from  N.,  -18. 

Range. — North  America,  north  to  Labrador  and  Alaska;  breeds  locally 
throughout  its  range ;  winters  as  far  south  as  Brazil. 

Washington,  common  S.  K.,  more  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  15  to  Sept.  25. 
Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  18  to  Oct.  1.  Cambridge,  common  S.  E.,  Apl. 
28  to  Sept.  1. 

Nest.^  of  grasses  and  feathers,  in  a  hole  in  a  sand  bank,  two  to  three  feet 
from  the  entrance.     Eggs.,  four  to  six,  white,  "68  x  -48. 

This  is  a  locally  distributed  species  breeding  in  colonies  only  where 
sand  banks  offer  it  a  favorable  nesting  site.  Probably  for  the  reason 
that  such  banks  are  more  frequently  found  bordering  streams  than 
inland,  the  birds  are  more  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of  water. 

Bank  Swallows  may  be  readily  known  from  other  Swallows,  except- 
ing the  Rough-winged,  by  their  nesting  habits,  small  size,  and  absence 
of  metallic  coloring. 

From  the  Rough-wing  they  differ  in  having  the  under  parts  white, 
with  a  conspicuous  band  across  the  breast,  and  in  their  somewhat 
quicker  movements. 

617.  Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  \Aud.).  Rough-winged  Swal- 
low. Ad. —  Upper  parts  brownish  gray;  throat  and  breast  pale  brownish 
gray ;  belly  white ;  outer  web  of  first  primary  with  a  series  of  recurved 
hook  lets  ;  no  tuft  of  feathers  above  the  hind  toe.  Im. — Similar,  but  without 
recurved  booklets  on  the  first  primary  ;  throat  and  breast  more  or  less  washed 
and  wing-coverts  edged  with  rufous.  L.,  5-75;  W.,  4-35;  T.,  2*10:  B.  from. 
N.,  -19. 


WAXWINGS.  323 

Eange. — North  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  British  Columbia,  Minne- 
sota, and  Connecticut ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  5  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  K., 
Apl.  17  to  Aug.  12. 

Nest^  of  coarse  grasses  and  feathers,  under  bridges,  in  stone  walls,  or  a  hole 
in  a  bank.     Eggs^  four  to  eight,  white,  -72  x  -51. 

Rough-winged  Swallows  resemble  Bank  Swallows  both  in  habits 
and  appearance.     They  do  not,  however,  always  nest  in  holes  in  banks, 
but  are  sometimes  found  nesting  about 
bridges,  railway  trestles  and  their  abut- 
ments. 

With  the  Bank  Swallow  this  bird  dif- 
fers from  our  other  Swallows  in  the  ab-    Fig.  90. -Section  of  outer  pri- 
mary of  adult  Rough-wingea 
sence  of  metallic  colors,  while  from  the       Swallow.    (Enlarged.) 

Bank  Swallow  it  is  to  be  distinguished 

by  its  plain,  pale  brownish  gray,  uniformly  colored  throat  and  breast, 

and  somewhat  slower,  less  erratic  flight. 

Family  Ampelid^.    Waxwings. 

This  small  family  contains  the  two  known  species  of  Waxwings, 
with  which  some  ornithologists  class  several  peculiar  American  tropical 
species  whose  exact  relationships  are  not  thoroughly  understood. 

618.  Ampelis  garrulus  {Linn.).  Bohemian  Waxwing.  Ad. — 
Forehead,  chin,  and  line  through  the  eye  velvety  black ;  a  conspicuous  crest ; 
front  of  crown  chestnut-rufous ;  upper  parts  rich  grayish  brown ;  upper  tail- 
coverts,  wings,  and  tail  grayish  ;  primary  coverts  and  secondaries  tipped  with 
white,  the  latter  with  small,  red,  seed-shaped  sealing-wax-like  tips ;  all  but 
the  outer  primaries  tipped  with  yellow  or  white  on  the  outer  web  ;  end  of  tail 
with  a  yellow  band ;  breast  like  the  back,  grayer  on  the  belly ;  under  tail- 
coverts  chestnut-rufous.     L.,  8-00;  W.,  4-60;  T.,  2-60:  B.  from  N.,  -29. 

Range. — Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere ;  in  North  America 
south  in  winter,  irregularly,  to  the  northern  United  States ;  recorded  from  as 
far  south  as  Kansas,  Illinois,  and  Pennsylvania. 

Nest.,  of  twigs,  roots,  moss,  etc.,  in  trees.  Eggs.,  similar  in  color  to  those  of 
A.  cedrorum.,  "92  x  '65. 

The  distribution  of  this  bird  in  the  United  States  is  not  unlike  that 
of  the  Evening  Grosbeak.  It  is  exceedingly  rare  and  irregular  in  the 
Atlantic  States,  but  occurs  with  some  frequency  in  the  northern  Mis- 
sissippi Valley.  In  notes  and  habits  it  is  said  to  resemble  its  small 
cousin,  the  Cedar  Waxwing. 

619.  Ampelis  cedrorum  (  Vieill.).  Cedar  Waxwing  ;  Cedar-bird  ; 
Cherry-bird.  (See  Fig.  50.)  Ad. — Forehead,  chin,  and  a  line  thi-ough  the 
eye  velvety  black  ;  a  conspicuous  crest ;  upper  parts  rich  grayish  brown  ;  upper 


324  WAXWINGS. 

tail -coverts,  wings,  and  tail  gray  ;  secondaries,  and  sometimes  tail,  with  small, 
red,  seed-shaped,  sealing-wax-like  tips ;  tail  with  a  yellow  band  at  its  end ; 
breast  like  the  back,  changing  gradually  into  yellowish  on  the  belly;  under 
tail-coverts  white.     L.,  7-19  ;  W.,  3-70  ;  T.,  2-37  ;  B.  from  N.,  -26. 

Bangs. — North  America ;  breeds  from  Virginia  and  the  highlands  of 
South  Carolina  north  to  Labrador ;  winters  from  the  northern  United  States 
to  Central  America. 

Washington,  very  common  P.  R.,  less  so  in  winter.  Sing  Sing,  common 
P.  K.  Cambridge,  not  common  P.  K.,  common  S.  K.,  abundant  T.  V.  in  spring, 
Feb.  1  to  Apl.  25. 

Aes^,  bulky,  of  strips  of  bark,  leaves,  grasses,  twigs,  rootlets,  moss,  and 
sometimes  mud,  lined  with  liner  materials  of  the  same  nature,  in  fruit  or 
shade  trees,  five  to  twenty  feet  up.  Eggs^  three  to  five,  pale  bluish  gray  or 
putty  color,  distinctly  and  obscurely  spotted  with  black  or  umber,  'SS  x  -62. 

When  the  spring  migration  is  over  and  the  home  birds  have  gone 
to  nest-building,  small  flocks  of  Goldfinches  and  Waxwings — two 
peculiarly  gentle,  attractive  birds — may  still  be  seen  wandering  about 
the  country.  The  squads  of  Cedar-birds  fly  evenly,  on  a  level  with  the 
tree  tops,  in  close  ranks,  often  of  five,  seven,  or  nine.  Frequently, 
when  under  full  headway,  they  suddenly  wheel  and  dive  down  to  an 
apple  tree  for  a  meal  of  canker  worms. 

In  following  the  beautiful  Waxwings  about  one  listens  in  vain  for 
a  song,  but  soon  comes  to  relish  their  two  peculiar  calls — a  hushed 
whistle  and  the  subdued  call  Thoreau  describes  as  their  "  beady  note," 
a  succession  of  short  notes  strung  together — for  they  both  seem  to 
harmonize  with  the  quiet  reserve  of  the  delicately  tinted  birds. 

In  July,  when  the  wandering  flocks  are  no  longer  seen,  a  walk 
through  the  neighboring  orchards  may  show  where  both  tardy  build- 
ers have  at  last  gone  to  nesting,  and  few  bird  homes  afford  pictures  of 
such  human  tenderness  and  devotion.  If  there  is  an  evergreen  in  the 
vicinity,  the  Cedar-bird  mounts  guard  upon  its  tip,  but  occasionally 
relieves  the  monotony  of  his  watch  by  flying  up  in  the  air  for  light 
•  luncheons  of  passing  insects. 

The  strong  individuality  of  the  Waxwings  make  them  interesting 
birds  to  the  field  student.  The  use  of  their  crests  in  expressing  emo- 
tion, and  the  protective  attitudes  they  assume  when  watched  at  their 
nests,  throw  much  light  upon  bird  psychology. 

To  the  bird-lover,  however,  the  Cedar-birds  have  their  own  attrac- 
tion; their  proverbially  gentle,  refined  ways  make  them  seem  superior 
creatures  of  the  air  to  whom  he  can  but  yield  his  affection. 

I  shall  never  forget  a  pair  that  I  once  found  by  a  clear  mountain 
lake.  They  were  perched  upon  two  evergreen  spires  that  guarded  a 
silent  bay,  whose  dark  water  was  gilded  by  the  lingering  light  of  the 
setting  sun.  Florence  A.  Merriam. 


SHRIKES.  325 


Family  Laniidje.    Shrikes. 

The  Shrikes,  numbering  about  two  hundred  species,  are  largely 
confined  to  the  Old  World.  Only  two  species  are  found  in  America, 
both  members  of  the  subfamily  Laniince  or  true  Shrikes.  Their  char- 
acteristic habits  are  described  under  their  respective  names. 

621*  Lianius  borealis  Vleill.     Korthern  Shrike;    Butcher-bird. 

Ad. —  upper  parts  gray;  wings  and  tail  black;  primaries  white  at  the  base, 
secondaries  tipped  with  white  or  grayish  ;  outer,  sometimes  all,  the  tail- 
feathers  tipped  with  white,  the  outer  feather  mostly  white  ;  forehead  wJiitish  ; 
lores  grayish  black ;  ear-coverts  black  ;  under  parts  white,  generally  finely 
barred  with  black ;  bill  hooked  and  hawklike.  Im. — Similar,  but  entire 
plumage  more  or  less  heavily  barred  or  washed  with  grayish  brown.  L., 
10-32  ;  v.,  4-55  ;  T.,  4-00  ;  B.  from  N.,  -55. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  interior  in  the  far  north  (Fort  Anderson,  MacFar- 
lane),  and  migrates  southward  in  winter  as  far  as  Kansas  and  Virginia. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  W.  V.,  Nov.  to  Feb.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably 
common  W.  V.,  Oct.  26  to  Apl.  17.  Cambridge,  common  W.  V.,  Nov.  1  to 
Apl.  1. 

Nest.,  of  twigs,  grasses,  etc.,  in  low  trees  or  bushes,  ^ggs,  similar  in  color 
to  those  of  L.  ludomciamis,  1'05  x  -76. 

This  bird  may  be  known  at  once  by  his  colors — gray,  black,  and 
white — by  the  consternation  his  appearance  causes  among  the  Spar- 
rows, and  by  his  peculiar  flight,  which  is  steady  and  straightforward, 
with  much  flapping,  and  close  to  the  ground  till  he  nears  his  in- 
tended perch,  which  is  reached  at  the  last  moment  by  a  sudden  up- 
ward turn. 

He  is  so  well  known  as  a  bird  of  hawklike,  sanguinary  character 
that  most  students  are  astonished  when  they  find  out  that  toward 
springtime  he  develops  into  a  vocalist  of  no  mean  powers.  Often  in 
the  warm  days  of  March  he  may  be  heard  singing  on  the  top  of  some 
tail  tree,  a  song  that  would  do  credit  to  a  Catbird — indeed,  it  recalls 
strongly  that  loquacious  songster.  He  is,  I  think,  a  better  singer  than 
his  southern  cousin,  but  resembles  him  in  habitually  impaling  his 
prey  on  a  thorn,  a  fence  barb,  or  a  forked  twig.  His  food  consists 
chiefly  of  mice,  noxious  insects,  and  the  equally  noxious  English  Spar- 
row, so  that  the  Shrike  is  a  bird  worthy  of  all  protection. 

Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

622*  Lianius  ludovicianus  Linn.  Loggerhead  Shrike.  (See 
Fig.  51.)  Ad. — Upper  parts  gray,  wings  and  tail  black,  primaries  white  at 
the  base,  secondaries  tipped  with  white  ;  outer,  sometimes  all,  the  tail- 
feathers  tipped  with  white ;  the  outer  feather  mostly  white  ;  lores  black, 
connected  by  a  narrow  black  line  on  the  forehead  at  the  base  of  the  bill ; 
ear-coverts  black  ;  under  parts  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  gray.     L.,  9*00 ; 


326  SHRIKES. 

W.,  3-82 ;  T.,  3-87 ;  B.  from  N.,  -48 ;  depth  of  B.  at  N.,  -35  (average  of  nine 
Florida  specimens). 

Memarlcs. — Specimens  from  the  Mississippi  Valley,  western  Pennsylvania, 
New  York,  and  northern  New  England  average  lighter  in  color  and  have,  as 
a  rule,  smaller  bills  than  specimens  from  the  south  Atlantic  States.  They 
are  thus  intermediate  between  ludovicianus  and  excuhitorides,  but  the  ditfer- 
ences  between  them  are  too  slight  and  inconstant  to  warrant  me  in  including 
ixcuhitorkles  on  the  basis  of  specimens  which  are  quite  as  near  ludovicianus 
as  they  are  to  typical  examples  of  the  western  form. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  west  to  the  edge  of  the  plains ;  breeds, 
east  of  the  Alleghanies,  as  far  north  as  Virginia;  west  of  the  Alleghanies 
breeds  northward  to  the  Great  Lakes  and  eastward  through  central  New 
York  to  Vermont  and  Maine. 

Washington,  rare  W.  V.,  Aug.  11  to  Apl.  6.  Sing  Sing,  A.  V.  Cam- 
bridge, rare  in  fall  and  winter. 

Nest.,  of  strips  of  bark,  small  twigs,  and  vegetable  fibers,  lined  with 
grasses,  in  thorny  hedges  or  low  trees,  about  seven  feet  up.  Eggs^  three  to 
five,  dull  white  or  creamy  white,  thickly  marked  with  cinnamon-brown  and 
lavender,  -98  x  -78. 

Like  some  of  the  Hawks  and  Flycatchers,  the  Loggerhead  does 
not  search  for  his  prey,  but  waits  for  it  to  come  within  striking  dis- 
tance. It  is  of  importance,  therefore,  that  his  perch  should  command 
an  uninterrupted  view  of  his  surroundings.  For  this  reason  one 
rarely  or  never  sees  a  Shrike  in  a  tree,  but  always  on  its  outermost  or 
highest  branches.  He  will  fly  directly  toward  its  center,  but  just  as 
he  reaches  it  swing  up  and  light  on  its  top.  He  also  selects  telegraph 
wires,  peaks  of  houses,  and  especially  the  apex  of  a  lightning  rod  or 
weather  vane. 

From  his  point  of  vantage  he  maintains  a  constant  outlook  for  any 
un.suspecting  grasshopper,  small  snake,  or  lizard  which  may  appear 
below.  The  distance  at  which  he  can  detect  these  gives  evidence  of 
his  power  of  sight.  I  have  seen  Shrikes  fly  fifty  yards  with  the  evi- 
dent object  of  capturing  a  grasshopper  which  they  undoubtedly  saw 
before  starting.^ 

Like  the  Butcher-bird,  the  Loggerhead  frequently  impales  its  prey 
on  a  convenient  thorn  or  spike.  Doubtless  this  habit  aids  him  in  dis- 
secting his  food,  but  I  do  not  think  that  he  does  it  for  this  reason  alone. 
The  bird's  vigilance,  like  that  of  the  waiting  Hawk,  is  probably  at- 
tended by  varying  results.  One  hour  may  yield  excellent  returns,  the 
next  may  be  fruitless.  But  under  any  circumstances  he  can  not  resist 
taking  advantage  of  an  opportunity  to  secure  food.  Sometimes  the 
opportunities  exceed  the  demands  of  his  stomach,  and  then,  after  cap- 
turing his  unfortunate  victim,  he  simply  impales  and  leaves  it. 

If  perseverance  deserved  success,  the  Loggerhead  would  take  high 
rank  as  a  songster.     But  his  notes  are  harsh  and  unmusical.     They 


VIREOS.  327 

consist  of  a  series  of  guttural  gurgles,  squeaky  whistles,  and  shrill  pipes, 
some  of  which  might  be  attributed  to  the  creaking  weather  vanes  he 
so  often  chooses  as  a  perch. 

Family  Vireonid^.    Vireos. 

The  Vireos,  numbering  about  fifty  species,  are  peculiar  to  America, 
most  of  them  being  confined  to  Central  and  South  America.  Some 
fifteen  species,  all  belonging  to  the  genus  Vireo,  reach  the  United 
States. 

Vireos  are  for  the  most  part  arboreal,  though  several  species  haunt 
the  lower,  rather  than  the  higher  growth.  For  small,  insect-eating 
birds  they  are  rather  slow  in  their  movements.  We  do  not  see  them 
darting  out  after  insects  as  do  the  Flycatchers,  nor  do  they  flit  through 
the  foliage  after  the  manner  of  many  Warblers,  but  patiently  glean 
their  food  from  the  under  surfaces  of  leaves,  crevices  in  the  bark,  etc. 
They  are  more  musical  than  the  small  Warblers ;  all  our  species  have 
pleasing  songs,  and  some  of  them  are  especially  gifted. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

A.  With  distinct  white  or  yellowish  white  wing-bars. 

a.  Eye-ring,  or  line  from  eye  to  bill,  yellow. 

ai.  Throat  and  breast  bright  yellow  ;  rump  gray. 

628.  Yellow-throated  Vireo. 
a^.  Under  parts  white  or  whitish ;  sides  and  sometimes  breast  washed 
with  greenish  yellow  ;  rump  olive-green. 

631.  White-eyed  Vireo.     631a.  Key  West  Vireo. 

b.  Eye-ring  and  line  from  eye  to  bill  white. 
b^.  Head  lead-blue  ;  wing  over  2"50. 

629.  Blue-headed  Vireo.     629a.  Mountain  Vireo. 
bK  Head  grayish,  nearly  like  back ;  wing  under  2-50. 

633.  Bell's  Vireo  (Hlinois). 

B.  Without  white  wing-bars. 

a.  Under  parts  yellowish  ;  first  primary  as  long  as  fifth. 

626.  Philadelphia  Vireo. 

b.  Under  parts  white  ;  sides  washed  with  yellowish ;  first  primary  '75  long. 

627.  Warbling  Vireo. 

c.  Under  parts  white,  with  little  if  any  yellowish  on  sides ;  head  with  a 
lead-gray  cap,  bordered  by  narrow  black  lines  over  the  eye. 

624.  Red-eyed  Vireo.     623.  Black-whiskered  Vireo. 

633.  Vireo    calidris     barbatulus    (Cab.).      Black- whiskered 

Vireo.  Ad. — Similar  to  the  next  species,  but  somewhat  duller  above  and 
with  a  fuscous  streak  on  either  side  of  the  throat. 

Range. — Cuba,  Bahamas,  and  southern  Florida;  southward  to  Central 
America  in  winter. 

Nest^  pensile,  of  dry  grasses,  shreds  of  bark,  cotton,  lichens,  and  spiders' 
web,  lined  with  soft,  cottonlike  fibers,  suspended  from  a  forked  branch,  five 


328 


VIREOS. 


Fig.  91.— Red  eyed  Vireo. 
size.) 


(Natural 


to  twenty  feet  up.     Eggs^  three  to  four,  white,  with  a  pinkish  hue,  speckled 
and  spotted,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  reddish  brown,  -78  x  -55. 

This  is  a  not  uncommon  summer  resident  in  southern  Florida,  ar- 
riving from  its  winter  home  in  Central  America  early  in  May.  Its 
song  resembles  that  of  the  Red-eyed  Vireo,  but  is  somewhat  more  hesi- 
tating and  emphatic. 

634.  Vireo  olivaceus  {Linn.).  Eed-eyed  Vikeo.  Ad.  —  Crown 
slaty  gray,  bordered  on  either  side  by  blackish  ;  a  conspicuous  white  line  over 
the  eye ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  light  olive-green  ;  no  wing- 
bars  ;  under  parts  pure  white.  L.,  6-23  ; 
W.,  3-20;  T.,  2-20;  B.  from  N.,  -40. 

Remarlcs. — The  well-defined  slaty - 
gray  cap,  bordered  by  narrow  black 
lines,  are  the  best  distinguishing  marks 
of  this  species. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  ; 
westward  to  British  Columbia;  breeds 
from  the  Gulf  States  to  Labrador  and 
Manitoba;  winters  in  Central  and 
South  America. 

Washington,  very  common  S.  R., 
Apl.  25  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  29  to  Oct.  19.  Cambridge, 
abundant  S.  R.,  May  10  to  Sept.  10. 

^est.^  pensile,  of  strips  of  bark,  bits  of  dead  wood,  paper,  and  plant  down, 
firmly  and  smoothly  interwoven,  lined  with  finer  strips  of  bark  and  vine  ten- 
drils, suspended  from  a  forked  branch,  five  to  forty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three  to 
four,  white,  with  a  few  black  or  umber  specks  or  spots  about  the  larger  end, 
'85  X  "55. 

This,  the  most  common  and  generally  distributed  of  our  Vireos,  is 
found  alike  in  the  shade  trees  of  our  lawns,  in  orchards,  or  woodlands. 
The  conspicuous  white  line  over  the  eye,  with  its  black  border,  and  the 
bird's  red  eye,  are  good  characters  by  which  to  distinguish  it  fiom  its 
relatives. 

Wilson  Flagg's  description  of  the  Red-eye  to  my  mind  exactly  re- 
flects the  character  of  the  bird  and  its  song :  "  The  Preacher  is  more 
generally  known  by  his  note,  because  he  is  incessant  in  his  song,  and 
particularly  vocal  during  the  heat  of  our  long  summer  days,  when  only 
a  few  birds  are  singing.  His  style  of  preaching  is  not  declamation. 
Though  constantly  talking,  he  takes  the  part  of  a  deliberative  orator, 
who  explains  his  subject  in  a  few  w^ords  and  then  makes  a  pause  for 
his  hearers  to  reflect  upon  it.  We  might  suppose  him  to  be  repeating 
moderately,  with  a  pause  between  each  sentence,  'You  see  it — you 
know  it — do  you  hear  mef — do  you  believe  it?'  All  these  strains  are 
delivered  with  a  rising  inflection  at  the  close,  and  with  a  pause,  as  if 
waiting  for  an  answer." 


VIRBOS.  329 

The  Yellow-green  Vireo  (6So.  V.flavoviridis)^  a  Mexican  and  Central 
American  species,  has  been  once  recorded  from  Godbout,  Province  of  Quebec. 

626.  Vireo  philadelphicus  {Cass.).  Philadelphia  Vireo.  Ad.— 
Upper  parts  light  olive-green  ;  the  crown  sometimes  grayish  ;  a  whitish  line 
over  the  eye ;  wings  and  tail  edged  with  olive-green ;  no  wing-bars ;  lirst 
primary  nearly  as  long  as  second ;  entire  under  parts  nearly  uniform  pale, 
greenish  yellow,    L.,  4-75 ;  W.,  2-60 ;  T.,  1-95 ;  B.  from  N.,  -26. 

Remarlcs. — The  pale,  greenish-yellow  color  spread  almost  uniformly  over 
the  entire  under  parts  distinguishes  this  bird  from  our  other  Vireos. 

Range.— E&Bi&m  North  America ;  breeds  in  Manitoba,  Maine,  and  proba- 
bly north  to  Labrador;  and  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  very  rare  T.  V,,  May  17.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Sept.  20  to 
Oct.  20.     Cambridge,  very  rare  T.  V.  in  Sept. 

Nest,  pensile,  of  fine  grass  and  birch  bark,  suspended  from  a  forked  branch 
about  eight  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four,  similar  in  color  to  those  of  V. 
olivaceus  (Thompson). 

This  species  resembles  the  Red-eyed  Vireo  in  habits,  and  Mr.  Brew- 
ster writes  that  its  song  is  so  nearly  identical  with  the  song  of  that  spe- 
cies "  that  the  most  critical  ear  will,  in  many  cases,  find  great  difficulty 
in  distinguishing  between  the  two.  The  notes  of  philadelphicus  are 
generally  pitched  a  little  higher  in  the  scale,  while  many  of  the  utter- 
ances are  feebler  and  the  whole  strain  is  a  trifle  more  disconnected. 
But  these  differences  are  of  a  very  subtile  character,  and,  like  most 
comparative  ones,  they  are  not  to  be  depended  upon  unless  the  two 
species  can  be  heard  together.  The  Philadelphia  Vireo  has,  however, 
one  note  which  seems  to  be  peculiarly  its  own,  a  very  abrupt,  double- 
syllabled  utterance  with  a  rising  inflection,  which  comes  in  with  the 
general  song  at  irregular  but  not  infrequent  intervals.  I  have  also  on 
one  or  two  occasions  heard  the  male  when  in  pursuit  of  his  mate  utter 
a  soft  pseuo,  similar  to  that  sometimes  used  by  Vireo  olivaceus,  and 
both  sexes  when  excited  or  angry  have  a  harsh,  petulant  note  exactly 
like  that  of  F.  gilvus  "  (Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  v,  1881,  p.  5). 

627.  Vireo  gilvus  (  Vieill.).  Warbling  Vireo.  ^c?.— Upper  parts 
ashy  olive-green ;  no  wing-bars ;  wings  and  tail  edged  with  the  color  of  the 
back;  first  primary  tery 

f^hort.,  not  more  than  1*00 

in   length ;   under   parts 

white    slightly    washed 

with  yellowish.    L.,  5*80  ; 

W.,  2-85  ;  T.,  2-14 ;  B.  from  -^ 

N.  -30.  ^^^-  92.— Wing  of  Warbling  Vireo,  to  show  short  first 

'       '  ^^      ,     .  primary. 

Range. — North  Amer- 
ica; breeds  as  far  north  as  the  Hudson  Bay  region;  winters  in  the  tropics. 
Washington,  rather  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  28  to  Sept.  10.     Sing  Sing,  tolera- 


330  VIREOS. 

bly  common  S.  E.,  May  3  to  Sept.  18.     Cambridge,  common  S.  R.,  May  10  to 
Sept.  25. 

Nest,  pensile,  of  grasses  and  plant  fibers,  firmly  and  smoothly  interwoven, 
lined  with  tine  grasses,  suspended  from  a  forked  branch  eight  to  forty  feet 
up.  Eggs,  three  to  four,  white,  with  a  few  specks  or  spots  of  black,  umber, 
or  rufous-brown,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  "76  x  -55. 

Unlike  its  cousin,  the  Preacher,  the  Warbling  Vireo  is  not  gen- 
erally distributed,  but  shows  a  decided  preference  for  rows  of  shade 
trees,  particularly  rows  of  elms.  It  passes  the  greater  part  of  its  time 
in  the  upper  branches,  and  is  more  often  heard  than  seen. 

Although  resembling  the  Red-eye  in  general  appearance,  its  song 
is  so  different  that  singing  birds  need  never  be  mistaken  for  that  spe- 
cies. Instead  of  the  Red-eye's  broken,  rambling  recitative,  the  song 
of  the  Warbling  Vireo  is  a  firm,  rich,  continuous  warble  with  a  singu- 
lar alto  undertone. 

638>  Vireo  flavifrons  Vieill.  Yellow-throated  Vireo.  Ad. — 
Upper  parts  triglit  olive-green,  changing  to  gray  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail- 
coverts  ;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white,  forming  two 
distinct  wing-bars ;  outer  web  of  inner  secondaries  white;  eye-ring,  throat, 
and  breast  bright  yellow;  belly  white.  L.,  5-95  ;  W.,  3-05;  T.,  2-10  ;  B.  from 
N.,  -36. 

Bange. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Newfoundland 
and  Manitoba ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  20  to  Sept.  15.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably 
common  S.  R.,  Apl.  30  to  Sept.  7.    Cambridge,  common  S.  R.,  May  8  to  Sept.  1. 

Nest,  pensile,  of  strips  of  bark,  plant  fibers,  etc.,  interwoven,  lined  with 
fine  grasses  and  covered  externally  with  lichens,  suspended  from  a  forked 
branch  ten  to  thirty  feet  up.  Eggs,  three  to  four,  white,  with  a  few  specks 
or  spots  of  black,  umber,  or  rufous-brown,  chiefly  about  the  larger  ends, 
•80  X  -60. 

The  Yellow-throated  Vireo  is  a  dweller  in  tree  tops,  and  whether 
in  woodland,  orchard,  or  lawn,  he  seldom  comes  below  the  upper  story 
of  his  home.  But  even  at  a  distance  his  bright  yellow  breast  is  a  con- 
spicuous mark,  at  once  distinguishing  him  from  other  members  of  his 
family. 

If  the  Red-eyed  Vireo  is  a  soprano,  the  Yellow-throat  is  a  con- 
tralto. He  sings  much  the  same  tune,  but  his  notes  are  deeper  and 
richer,  while  they  are  uttered  more  deliberately  and  with  greater  ex- 
pression than  those  of  his  somewhat  too  voluble  cousin.  "  See  me ; 
I'm  here;  where  are  you?"  he  calls,  and  at  intervals  repeats  his  ques- 
tion in  varying  forms.  Sometimes  he  astonishes  us  by  an  intricate 
liquid  trill  which  suggests  the  wonderful  song  of  the  Ruby  Kinglet, 
but  which  unfortunately  is  sometimes  marred  by  the  scolding  notes 
that  precede  or  follow  it. 


Yellow-throated  Vireo. 
Warbling  Vtreo. 


VIREOS.  331 

629.  Vireo  solitarius  (  Wils.).  Blue-headed  Vireo.  (See  Fig.  52.) 
j^d. — Top  and  sides  of  the  head  bluish  gray  ;  eye-ring  and  lores  white  ;  back 
olive-green;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white,  forming 
two  distinct  wing-bars ;  outer  web  of  inner  secondaries  white ;  under  parts 
white  ;  sides  washed  with  greenish  yellow.  L.,  5-61 ;  W.,  2-96 ;  T.,  2-15 ;  B. 
from  N.,  -28. 

Bemarlcs. — This  species  may  be  known  by  its  white  lores  and  eye-ring,  and 
bluish-gray  cheeks  and  crown. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  Connecticut  (and  south- 
ward along  the  crest  of  the  AUeghanies)  northward  to  New  Brunswick  and 
Manitoba ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  10  to  May  10;  Sept.  to  Oct.  26.  Sing 
Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  23  to  May  14 ;  Sept.  8  to  Oct.  20.  Cam- 
bridge, common  T.  V.,  rather  rare  S.  E.,  Apl.  25  to  Oct.  5. 

Nest.^  pensile,  of  pine  needles,  plant  down,  etc.,  firmly  interwoven,  sus- 
pended from  a  forked  branch  live  to  ten  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  white, 
with  a  few  specks  or  spots  of  black,  umber,  or  rufous-brown,  chiefly  at  the 
larger  end,  -SO  x  -53. 

This  large  and  handsome  Vireo — a  bird  of  the  woods — is  the  first 
of  its  family  to  reach  the  Northern  States  in  the  spring  and  the  last 
to  depart  in  the  autumn.  Like  its  congeners,  but  unlike  birds  in  gen- 
eral, it  sings  at  its  work.  In  form  its  music  resembles  the  Red-eye's, 
the  Philadelphia's,  and  the  Yellow-throat's ;  but  to  me  it  is  more  varied 
and  beautiful  than  any  of  these,  though  some  listeners  may  prefer  the 
Yellow-throat  for  the  richness  and  fullness  of  its  "  organ  tone."  The 
Solitary's  song  is  matchless  for  the  tenderness  of  its  cadence,  while  in 
peculiarly  happy  moments  the  bird  indulges  in  a  continuous  warble 
that  is  really  enchanting.  It  has,  too,  in  common  with  the  Yellow- 
throat,  a  musical  chatter — suggestive  of  the  Baltimore  Oriole's — and  a 
pretty  trilled  whistle.  Its  most  winning  trait  is  its  tameness.  Wood 
bird  as  it  is,  it  will  sometimes  permit  the  greatest  familiarities.  Two 
birds  I  have  seen  which  allowed  themselves  to  be  stroked  in  the  freest 
manner  while  sitting  on  the  eggs,  and  which  ate  from  my  hand  as 
readily  as  any  pet  canary;  but  I  have  seen  others  that  complained 
loudly  whenever  I  approached  their  tree.  Perhaps  they  had  had  sad 
experiences.  Bradford  Torrey. 

A  single  specimen  of  the  Plumbeous  Vireo  {62%.  V.  s.  plumbeus).,  a  west- 
ern species,  has  been  taken  at  Peterboro,  N.  Y.  (Miller,  Auk,  xi,  1894,  p.  79). 

629c.  V.  s.  ailticolai  Brewst.  Mountain  Solitary  Vireo. — Similar 
to  the  preceding,  but  with  a  much  larger  bill,  and  the  back  generally  with 
more  or  less  slaty  blue.  W.,  3-15;  T.,  2-25;  B.  from  N.,  -35;  depth  of  B.  at 
N.,  -20. 

Range. — Higher  portions  of  the  AUeghanies  in  North  and  South  Carolina ; 
southward  in  winter  to  Florida. 


332  VIREOS. 

This  race  of  the  Blue-headed  Vireo  is  a  common  summer  resident 
in  the  southern  Alleghanies  (see  Loomis,  Auk,  viii,  1891,  p.  329), 

631.  Vireo  noveboracensis  {Gmel.).  White-eyeu  Vireo.  Ad. — 
Upper  parts,  including  upper  tail-coverts.^  bright  olive-green,  more  or  less 
washed  with  grayish  ;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  yellowish 
white,  forming  two  distinct  wing-bars ;  outer  web  of  inner  secondaries  whitish  ■ 
lores  and  eye-ring  yellow ;  throat  white  or  whitish  ;  belly  white ;  breast  and 
sides  washed  with  greenish  yellow ;  iris  white,  hazel  in  the  young.  L.,  5-27 ; 
W.,  2-37  ;  T.,  1-95  ;  B.  from  N.,  -29. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  New  Hampshire 
and  Minnesota ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  20  to  Oct.  7.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R., 
Apl.  29  to  Oct.  3.  Cambridge,  rather  rare  S.  R.,  May  8  to  Sept.  20 ;  formerly 
common. 

Nest.,  generally  similar  to  that  of  V.  olivaceus.,  suspended  from  a  forked 
branch  in  thickets.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  white,  with  a  few  specks  of  black, 
umber,  or  rufous- brown  at  the  larger  end,  -75  x  -55. 

If  birds  are  ever  impertinent,  I  believe  this  term  might  with  truth 
be  applied  to  that  most  original,  independent  dweller  in  thickety  un- 
dergrowths,  the  White-eyed  Vireo.  Both  his  voice  and  manner  say 
that  he  doesn't  in  the  least  care  what  you  think  of  him ;  and,  if 
attracted  by  his  peculiar  notes  or  actions,  you  pause  near  his  haunts, 
he  jerks  out  an  abrupt  "  Who  are  you,  eh  ? "  in  a  way  which  plainly 
indicates  that  your  presence  can  be  dispensed  with.  If  this  hint  is 
insufficient,  he  follows  it  by  a  harsh  scolding,  and  one  can  fancy  that 
in  his  singular  white  eye  there  is  an  unmistakable  gleam  of  disap- 
proval. 

I  have  always  regretted  that  the  manners  of  this  Vireo  have  been  a 
bar  to  our  better  acquaintance,  for  he  is  a  bird  of  marked  character 
and  with  unusual  vocal  talents.  He  is  a  capital  mimic,  and  in  the 
retirement  of  his  home  sometimes  amuses  himself  by  combining  the 
songs  of  other  birds  in  an  intricate  potpourri. 

631a>.  V,  n.  maynardi  Brewst.  Key  West  Vireo. — Scarcely  dis- 
tinguishable in  color  from  the  preceding,  but  averaging  somewhat  paler  and 
less  yellow  below,  and  with  a  larger  bill.  L.,  5-12;  W.,  2-40;  T.,  2-12;  B. 
from  N.,  -35. 

Range. — Southern  Florida. 

This  closely  related  race  of  the  White-eyed  Vireo  is  a  common  per- 
manent resident  in  southern  Florida. 

633.  Vireo  belli  Aud.  Bell's  Vireo.  ^t?.  — Crown  ashy  gray, 
changing  to  olive-green  on  the  rump;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  nar- 
rowly tipped  with  while;  lores  and  eye-ring  whitish;  under  parts  white, 
breast  and  sides  washed  -yvith  greenish  yellow.  L.,  4-75;  W.,  2-20;  T.,  1-80; 
B.  from  N.,  -28. 


WOOD  WARBLERS.  333 

^aw^^.— Interior  of  North  America,  from  Texas  north  to  Minnesota,  east 
to  Illinois. 

Nest^  pensile,  of  strips  of  bark  and  plant  fibers  firmly  and  smoothly  inter- 
woven, lined  with  finer  grasses,  etc.,  in  bushes  or  low  trees.  Eggs^  four  to 
six,  white,  with  a  few  specks  of  black,  umber,  or  rufous-brown  at  the  larger 
end,  -66  x  -50. 

This  is  a  common  bird  in  its  range,  and  is  locally,  not  uncommon 
as  far  east  as  Illinois.  "  In  their  food,  habits,  and  actions  they  are 
very  similar  to  the  White-eyed.  Their  call-  and  alarm-notes  are  not 
quite  so  harsh,  and  their  song  is  delivered  in  a  less  emphatic  manner ; 
an  indescribable  sputtering,  that  does  not  rank  it  high  in  the  musical 
scale  "  (Goss). 

The  Bahama  Honey  Creeper  {6S5.  Coereba  hahamensis)  was  found  by 
Dr.  Wtirdemann  in  January,  1858,  on  Indian  Key,  southeastern  Florida,  but 
has  not,  to  my  knowledge,  been  taken  by  subsequent  observers.  The  upper 
parts  are  sooty  black,  the  rump  and  middle  of  the  under  parts  yellow,  and  a  line 
over  the  eye,  the  throat,  and  the  lower  belly  are  white  or  whitish;  length 
about  4"50. 

Family  Mniotiltid^.    Wood  Warblers. 

The  Wood  Warblers  are  found  only  in  America,  and  are  most  numer- 
ously represented  in  eastern  North  America.  About  one  hundred  spe- 
cies are  known,  of  which  seventy  visit  the  United  States,  while  the 
remaining  thirty  are  tropical. 

With  three  or  four  exceptions  they  are  inhabitants  of  woodland, 
but  during  their  migrations  may  be  found  in  the  trees  of  lawns  or 
orchards.  They  feed  almost  exclusively  upon  insects,  and  are  thus 
highly  migratory,  thousands  of  miles  frequently  separating  their  sum- 
mer and  winter  homes. 

The  majority  are  among  the  last  of  the  spring  arrivals ;  their  com- 
mg  caps  the  climax  of  the  migration,  and  the  jBirst  severe  frost  leaves 
but  few  with  us.  They  migrate  by  night,  and  are  chief  among  the 
victims  of  lighthouses  and  electric-light  towers.  When  migrating, 
they  are  generally  found  in  straggling  companies  composed  of  a  num- 
ber of  species,  which  during  the  day  travel  slowly  through  the  woods 
from  tree  to  tree. 

They  capture  their  insect  food  in  a  variety  of  ways.  Some  species 
flit  actively  from  branch  to  branch,  taking  their  prey  from  the  more 
exposed  parts  of  the  twigs  and  leaves ;  others  are  gleaners,  and  care- 
fully explore  the  under  surfaces  of  leaves  or  crevices  in  the  bark; 
while  several,  like  Flycatchers,  capture  a  large  part  of  their  food  on 
the  wing.  As  a  rule,  they  are  arboreal,  but  manj  are  thicket-haunt- 
ing, and  some  are  terrestrial. 


334  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

Several  species  have  remarkable  vocal  ability,  but,  generally  speak- 
ing, they  have  rather  weak  voices,  and  take  low  rank  as  songsters. 

Warblers  are  at  once  the  delight  and  the  despair  of  field  students. 
To  the  uninitiated  their  existence  is  unknown,  and  when  search  reveals 
the  before  unsuspected  fact  that  our  woods  are  thronged  with  birds  as 
exquisitely  colored  as  the  daintiest  tropical  forms,  we  feel  as  though  a 
new  world  were  opened  to  us. 

Absent  to-day,  present  to-morrow,  the  Warblers  come  and  go  under 
cover  of  the  night,  and  we  may  give  a  lifetime  to  their  study,  and  then 
know  we  have  not  mastered  the  laws  which  govern  their  movements. 

Entering  an  apparently  deserted  bit  of  woods,  we  hear  faint  voices, 
lisping  tseeps,  and  soon  discover  that  the  tree  tops  are  animated  with 
flitting  forms.  What  limitless  possibilities  there  are  in  a  flock  of 
Warblers !  Who  can  say  what  rare  species  may  be  among  them  ? — per- 
haps the  bird  we  have  long  vainly  looked  for ;  perhaps  a  stranger  from 
another  clime ! 

KEY   TO    THE   SPECIES. 

First  Group. — Throat  yellow,  yellowish,  or  orange. 
I.  Under  parts  without  streaks  or  spots. 

II.    With  black  or  brown  streaks  on  the  breast  or  sides,  or  (in  one  species)  a 
blackish  brown  band  across  the  throat,  or  (in  one  species)  a  black  patch 
on  the  breast. 
Second  Group. — Throat  black,  gray,  ashy,  white,  whitish,  brown,  or  buffy. 
I.  Throat  and  upper  breast  one  color,  black,  gray,  ashy,  or  brown,  ver^/  dif- 
ferent from  the  white  or  yellow  belly. 
II.  Throat  white  or  whitish,  with  or  without  streaks  or  spots ;  rest  of  under 

parts  streaked  or  spotted  with  black,  bluish,  chestnut,  or  yellow. 
III.  Under  parts  white,  whitish,  or  butfy,  without  streaks,  spots,  or  patches. 

First  Group. 

I.  Under  parts  -without  streaks  or  spots. 

1.  Tail  with  conspicuous  white  spots  or  patches. 
A.  Wings  with  white  wing-bars. 
a.  Under  parts  entirely  pure  yellow. 
a>.  Forehead  yellow ;  a  black  line  through  the  eye ;  rump  same  as 

back 641.  Blce-winged  Warbler. 

a".  Crown  ashy ;  rump  yellow    .     657.  Magnolia  Warbler  (Im.). 
h.  Throat  bright  yellow  ;  belly  white  or  whitish. 

fei.  Back  olive-greenish 671.  Pine  Warbler. 

ft'.  Back  bluish,  with  a  yellowish  patch  in  the  middle. 

648.  Parula  Warbler  (Im.). 
c.  Under  parts  pale  yellowish  white  or  buffy ;  throat  not  brighter  than 
belly. 
c*.  Back  olive-green,  slightly  streaked  with  black. 

c>.  Under  parts  pale  cream-buff,  stronger  on  the  flanks. 

660.  Bay-breasted  Warbler  (Im.). 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  335 

cS.  Under  parts  pale  yellowish  white. 

661.  Black-poll  Warbler  (Im.). 
d^.  Back  olive-green,  without  streaks.  .  671.  Pine  Warbler  9  . 
e^.  Back  with  a  bluish  tinge  and  without  streaks. 

658.  Cerulean  Warbler  (Im.). 

B.  Without  white  wing-bars. 

a.  Under  parts  bright  orange  or  orange-yellow ;  wings,  tail-coverts, 
and  tail  bluish  gray 637.  Prothonotary  Warbler. 

b.  Under  parts  pure  yellow  ;  wings,  rump,  and  tail  greenish ;  head 
sometimes  blackish  ;  inner  web  of  outer  tail-feathers  white. 

684.  Hooded  Warbler  (  9  and  im.). 
e.  Under  parts  pale  yellowish  ;  head  ashy ;  rump  olive-green ;  small 
white  tail-spots,  not  reaching  to  ends  of  feathers. 

640.  Bachman's  Warbler  (  9  and  im.). 
d.  Under  parts  pale   yellowish;  entire  upper  parts  olive-green;  a 
white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  primaries. 

654.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  9  . 
Tail  without  white  spots  or  patches ;  wings  without  white  wing-bars. 
A.  Cap,  or  forehead,  or  cheeks  black  or  blackish. 

a.  Cap  black  ;  forehead  and  cheeks  yellow. 

685.  Wilson's  Warbler. 

b.  Band  on  the  forehead  and  cheeks  black  or  blackish  ;  no  yellow 
line  over  the  eye 681.  Maryland  Yellow-throat  S  . 

6816.  Florida  Yellow-throat  $  . 

c.  Forehead  or  crown  and  cheeks  black  or  blackish ;  a  clear  yellow 
line  over  the  eye 677.  Kentucky  Warbler. 

^.  No  black  on  forehead;  crown  ashy,  of  a  very  different  color  from 
the  olive-green  back,  or  with  the  bases  of  the  crown  feathers  rufous- 
brown  or  chocolate. 

a.  Crown  plain  ashy ;  under  tail-coverts  white. 

640.  Bachman's  Warbler. 

b.  Crown  ashy ;  bases  of  feathers  chestnut ;  eye-ring  distinctly  white ; 
most  of  under  parts  and  under  tail-coverts  bright  yellow. 

645.  Nashville  Warbler. 

c.  Crown  of  nearly  the  same  color  as  the  back ;  the  feathers  with 
rufous-brown  bases ;  under  parts  dull  greenish  yellow. 

646.  Orange-crowned  Warbler. 

C.  Crown  of  the  same  color  as  the  back  ;  forehead  the  same,  or  yellow- 
ish, or  brownish. 

a.  Under  parts  bright  yellow. 

a*.  Upper  parts   bright  olive-green ;    forehead   yellowish ;    short 
bristles  at  base  of  bill ;  tail  greenish  brown. 

685.  Wilson's  Warbler  (Im.). 
a^.  Upper  parts  bright  greenish  yellow ;  inner  web  of  tail-feathers 

yellow 652.  Yellow  Warbler  9 . 

a*.  Upper  parts  ashy  greenish ;  eye-ring  white. 

645.  Nashville  Warbler  (Im.). 

b.  Throat  and  breast  yellow ;  belly  white  or  whitish. 


336  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

Ji.  A  black  spot  before  the  eye  and  a  white  line  over  it;  wing  3"00. 

683.  Yellow-breasted  Chat, 
h*.  Legs  tiesh-color;  outer  tail-feathers  shortest;   forehead  some- 
times brownish     ....     681.  Maryland  Yellow-throat  $. 

6816.  Florida  Yellow-throat  9  . 
Js.  Legs  blackish  ;  tail-feathers  even  ;  wing  under  3-00. 

645.  Nashville  Warbleb  (Im.). 
c.  Under  parts  uniform  yellow  or  yellowish. 

c'l.  Under  parts   dull  greenish   yellow,  obscurely   streaked   with 
dusky  ;  back  ashy  greenish. 

646.  Orange-crowned  Warbler  (Im.). 
c'.  Under  parts  yellowish  or  buffy  yellowish ;  outer  tail-feathers 
decidedly  shortest ;  legs  flesh-color. 

681.  Maryland  Yellow-throat  9  . 
6816.  Florida  Yellow-throat  $  ; 
cs.  Breast  somewhat  yellower  than  rest  of  under  parts;   flanks 
brownish  ;  legs  blackish  ;  tail-feathers  of  same  length. 

645.  Nashville  Warbler  (Im.). 
c*.  Inner  margins  of  tail-feathers  yellow. 

652.  Yellow  Warbler  9  • 
c^.  Back  bright  olive-green ;  under  tail-coverts  white. 

647.  Tennessee  Warbler  (Im.). 
c6.  A  small  white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  primaries. 

654.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  9  . 

II.  With  black  or  brown  streaks  on  the  breast  or  sides, 

or  (in  one  species)  a  blackish  brown  band  across  the 

throat,  or  (in  one  species)  a  black  patch  on  the  breast. 

3,  Under  parts  streaked  with  rufous-brown. 

A.  Crown  chestnut. 

a.  Entire  under  parts  rich  yellow  .     672a.  Yellow  Palm  Warbler. 
h.  Throat  and  breast  bright  yellow ;  belly  yellowish  white. 

672.  Palm  Warbler. 

B.  No  chestnut  crown- cap. 

a.  Under  parts  yellowish  white  ;  eye-ring  yellowish. 

672.  Palm  Warbler  (Im.). 
h.  Under  parts  yellow,  washed  with  brownish  ;  eye-ring  yellowish. 

672a.  Yellow  Palm  Warbler  (Im.). 
c.  Under  parts  bright  yellow ;  forehead  yellow ;  inner  webs  of  tail- 
feathers  yellow 652.  Yellow  Warbler  (Ad.). 

2.  Under  parts  streaked  or  spotted  with  black. 
A.  Back  unspotted,  the  same  as  the  head,  olive-green  or  olive-brown. 

a.  Under  parts  pale  sulphur-yellow,  streaked  with  black ;  no  wing- 
bars  ;  wing  3'00  or  over. 

675.  Water  Thrush.     675a.  Grinnell's  Water  Thrush. 

b.  Under  parts  bright  yellow;  no  black  streaks  on  the  flanks;  wing 
nearly  3-00 671.  Pine  Warbler. 

c.  Under  parts  bright  yellow  ;  sides  streaked  with  black ;  wing  about 
2-00. 673.  Prairie  Warbler  (  9  and  im.). 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  337 

d.  Throat  pale  yellow,  indistinctly  spotted  or  streaked  ;  belly 
whitish ;  cheeks  bright  yellow ;  outer  web  of  outer  tail-feather 
white  afe  the  base. 

667.  Black-throated  Green  Warbler  (Ini.). 

e.  Throat  and  breast  yellow,  distinctly  spotted  ;  median  wing-coverts 
white 650.  Cape  May  Warbler  (  9  and  im.), 

B.  Back  black  or  streaked  with  black,  or  center  of  crown  orange. 
a.  Under  parts  pale  yellow ;  black  spots  confined  to  sides ;  no  white 

wing-bars 670.  Kirtland's  Warbler. 

h.  Under  parts  pale  yellow,  indistinctly  streaked  with  blackish; 
two  white  or  whitish  wing-bars. 

661.  Black-poll  Warbler  (Im.). 

c.  Throat  orange  or  yellow,  without  streaks;  ear-coverts  gray  or 
black  ;  center  of  crown  yellowish  or  orange. 

662.  Blackburnian  Warbler. 

d.  Under  parts  streaked  with  black ;  eai'-coverts  rufous  ;  cap  black. 

650.  Cape  May  Warbler. 

e.  Head  bluish  gray  or  ashy ;  rump  bright  yello^y ;  eye-ring  white ; 
white  tail-spots  not  reaching  to  ends  of  feathers. 

657.  Magnolia  Warbler. 
G.  Back  ashy  gray. 
a.  Throat  yellow  ;  belly  white  ;  wing-bars  and  tail-spots  white, 
ai.  A  yellow  line  from  the  bill  to  the  eye. 

663.  Yellow-theoated  Warbler. 
a^.  A  white  line  from  the  bill  to  and  over  the  eye. 

663a.  Sycamore  Warbler. 
h.  Entire  under  parts  yellow  ;  breast  with  a  necklace  of  black  spots  ; 

no  wing-bars  or  tail-spots 686.  Canadian  Wareler. 

D.  Center  of  back  brick-red  ;  under  parts  yellow  ;  sides  streaked  with 
black 673.  Prairie  Warbler. 

3.  Throat  yellow ;  breast  with  a  band  of  copper  or  blackish  chestnut ; 
upper  parts  blue  ;  center  of  back  greenish  yellow. 

648.  Parula  Warbler. 

4.  Throat  and  forehead  yellow ;  breast  and  crown-cap  black. 

640.  Bachman's  Warbler. 

Second  Group. 

I.  Throat  and  upper  breast  one  color,  black,  gray,  ashy, 
or  brown,  very  different  frora  the  white  or  yello'w 
belly. 

A.  Belly  white  or  whitish. 
a.  Back  gray  or  greenish  gray,  crown  yellow,  cheeks  black  or  gray, 

wing-bars  yellow 642.  Golden- winged  Warbler. 

i.  Back   and  crown    bright  olive-green,   cheeks    yellow,  wing-bars 

white 667.  Black-throated  Green  Warbler. 

c.  Back  ana  crown  dark  blue,  a  white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  primaries. 

654.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  $ . 
23 


338  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

d.  Back  streaked  with  gray  and  black  ;  cap,  throat,  and  sides  chestnut. 

660.  Bay-breasted  Warbler  $  . 
tf.  Back  streaked  with  black  and  white,  a  white  line  through  the  cen- 
ter of  the  crown 636.  Black  and  White  Warbler  $. 

f.  Back  black ;  sides,  center  of  wings,  and  base  of  tail  salmon-red. 

687.  Redstart  S. 
B.  Belly  yellow. 
a.  Throat  black. 

a}.  Cheeks  bright  yellow,  black   crown-cap  connected  with  black 
throat  by  a  black  line,  end  half  of  inner  web  of  outer  tail-feathers 

white 684.  Hooded  Warbler. 

a*.  Cheeks  dull  greenish  yellow,  black  crown-cap  not  connected 
with  black  throat,  white  tail-spots  not  reaching  to  the  ends  of 

feathers 640.  Bachman's  Warbler. 

as.  A  black  streak  through  the  eye,  wing-bars  white, 

641  +  642,  Lawrence's  Warbler. 
6.  Throat  bluish  gray,  ashy,  or  brownish. 

h^.  K  white  eye-ring 678.  Connecticut  Warbler. 

J2.  No  white  eye-ring 679.  Mourning  Warbler. 

H.  Throat  -white  or  -whitish,  -with  or  -without  streaks  or 
spots;  rest  of  the  under  parts  spotted  or  streaked 
with  black,  bluish,  chestnut,  or  yellow. 

A.  Back  streaked  with  black. 

a.  With  chestnut  streaks  on  the  sides,  under  tail-coverts  white. 

a}-.  Wing  over  2-50,  head  with  chestnut  or  black  streaks  or  spots, 

wing-bars  white 660.  Bay-breasted  Warbler  ?  . 

o^.  Wing  under  2-50,  head  and  wing-bars  yellow  or  yellowish. 

659.  Chestnut-sided  Warbler, 
h.  With  black  or  bluish  streaks  on  the  sides  or  entire  under  parts. 

Ji.  Cap  solid  black 661,  Black-poll  Warbler  4. 

ft2.  Crown,  rump,  and  sides  of  the  breast  with  a  yellow  patch  or  spot. 

655,  Myrtle  Warbler, 
63,  Cap  black,  with  a  white  streak  through  the  center, 

636,  Black  and  White  Warbler  9 , 
6*,  Crown  olive-green,  with  small  black  streaks, 

661,  Black-poll  Warbler  9 . 
J6,  Crown  blue,  a  bluish-black  band  across  the  breast, 

658,   Cerulean  Warbler  t . 
J«,  Crown  brownish,  under  tail-coverts  yellow, 

672.  Palm  Warbler  (Im,). 

B.  Back  without  streaks  or  spots, 

a.  With  white  or  yellow  spots  in  the  tail, 

ai.  Wing-bars  white,  cheeks  yellow,  back  greenish, 

667.  Black-throated  Green  Warbler  (Im,). 
a^.  Wing-bars,  cheeks,  and  back  grayish,  under  tail-coverts  white, 

650.  Cape  May  Warbler  (  9  and  im.). 
a3.  Back  brownish,  under  tail-coverts  yellow. 

672.  Palm  Warbler  (Im.). 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  339 

a*.  Sides  of  breast,  band  in  wings,  and  base  of  tail  yellow. 

687.  Kedstart  (  ?  and  im.). 
h.  Without  white  or  yellow  spots  in  the  tail. 
b'^.  A  pale  rufous  streak  bordered  by  black  through  the  center  of 

the  crown 674.  Oven-bird. 

J'.  A  white  line  over  the  eye,  throat  generally  without  spots,  wing 

over  3*00,  bill  over -50 .     .    .    .     676.  Louisiana  Water-Thrush. 

h^.  A  buflfy  line  over  the  eye,  throat  with  small  black  spots,  wing 

under  3-00,  bill  under  -50 675.  Water-Thrush. 

675a.  Grinnell's  Water-Thrush. 
III.  Under  parts  iirhite,  whitish,  or  buffy,  without  streaks, 
spots,  or  patches. 
A.  Tail  with  white  or  yellow  spots  or  patches. 
a.  Wing-bars  white  or  grayish. 
a^.  Under  parts  pure  white,  back  greenish   yellow,  cheeks  gray, 
wing  under  2*50  ....     659.  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  (Im.). 
a'.  Under  parts  tinged  with  buffy,  back  and  cheeks  olive-green, 
with  generally  distinct  black  streaks,  wing  over  2-50. 

660.  Bay-breasted  Warbler  (Im.). 
aK  Under  parts  soiled  whitish,  back  brownish  or  grayish  green,  eye- 
ring  white,  wing-bars  grayish,  wing  over  2-50. 

671.  Pine  Warbler  (  9  and  im.). 
a*.  Under  parts  white,  back  streaked  with  pure  black  and  white. 

636.  Black  and  White  Warbler  ? . 

h.  Wing-bars  yellowish,  greenish,  or  absent. 

b^.  Back  and  head  bright  greenish   yellow,  cheeks  gray,  under 

parts  pure  white .    .    .     .     659.  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  (Im.). 

i'.  Back,  head,  and  cheeks  yellowish  green,  under  parts  yellowish, 

inner  margins  of  tail-feathers  yellow. 

652.  Yellow  Warbler  (Im.). 
b^.  Back  gray  or  grayish,  a  black  line  through  the  eye. 

641  +  642.  Brewster's  Warbler. 
6*.  Back  and  head  brownish,  wings  and  base  of  tail  with  a  yellow 

band 687.  Kedstart  (  9  and  im.). 

b*.  Back  bright  green,  head  and  cheeks  grayish,  a  small  black  spot 

in  front  of  the  eye 647.  Tennessee  Warbler  4  . 

B.  Tail  without  white  or  yellow  spots  or  patches. 

a.  Under  tail-coverts  yellow. 

a».  Back  olive-green,  outer  tail-feathers  shortest,  legs  flesh-color. 

681.  Maryland  Yellow-throat  (  9  and  im.). 

681&.  Florida  Yellow-throat. 

a\  Back  grayish   olive-green,  tail-feathers  of  equal   length,  legs 

blackish 646.  Orange-crowned  Warbler. 

b.  Under  tail-coverts  white  or  whitish. 

Ji.  Head  plain  brown,  a  whitish  line  from  the  bill  over  the  eye. 

638.  Swainson's  Warbler. 
J'.  Center  of  crown  and  line  from  the  bill  over  the  eye  buffy,  bor- 
dered by  black  stripes     ....     639.  Worm-eating  Warbler. 


340  WOOD    WARBLERS. 

b^.  Crown  greenish,  a  small  white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  primaries 
almost  concealed  by  wing-coverts. 

654.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  (  9  and  im.). 
b*.  Crown  grayish,  bend  of  the  wing  yellow. 

640.  Bachman's  Warbler  ?  . 


A  Field  Key  to  the 

Adult  Male  Warblers  of  Eastern  North  America  in 

Spring  and  Summer  Plumage. 

I.  Throat  yellow,  white,  or  whitish  ;  under  parts  without  streaks  or  patches. 
n.  Throat  black,  brown,  or  slate-color. 

III.  Throat  yellow  or  orange,  under  parts  with  streaks.     (In  one  species  a 

blackish-brown  band  across  the  breast.) 

IV.  Throat  white  or  whitish,  with  streaks  or  spots  on  the  under  parts.     (In 

two  species  a  yellow  patch  on  the  sides  of  the  breast.) 

I.  Throat  yellow,  'vrhite,  or  \<rhitisli;  under  parts  Mdthout 
streaks  or  patches. 

1.  Throat  yellow. 

A.  Length  over  6-00,  the  largest  of  the  Warblers ;  haunts  dense  thick- 
ets in  second  growth ;  song,  a  peculiar  mixture  of  whistles,  chucks, 
and  crow-calls,  delivered  from  the  undergrowth,  from  the  trees 
above,  or  on  the  wing,  when  the  bird  resembles  a  bunch  of  falling 
leaves 683.  Yellow-breasted  Chat. 

B.  Length  under  6-00. 

a.  Head  and  neck  bright  golden  yellow  like  the  breast ;  tail-feath- 
ers white,  except  at  the  tip ;  haunts  near  the  water,  especially 
low  bushes  and  willows  hanging  over  streams  and  ponds ;  call,  a 
sharp  peek  /  range,  from  Virginia  southward. 

637.  Prothonotaky  Warbler. 

b.  Forehead  and  cheeks  black,  a  yellow  line  over  the  eye ;  song,  a 
low  whistled  call  of  five  to  seven  notes  ;  haunts  near  the  ground ; 
range  from  lower  Hudson  Valley  southward. 

677.  Kentucky  Warbler. 

c.  Forehead  and  cheeks  black,  bordered  by  grayish ;  no  line  over 
the  eye ;  haunts  undergrowth  ;  call,  a  frequently  repeated  chack  ; 
song,  a  loud,  rapid  /  beseech  you,  I  beseech  you,  I  beseech  you,  or 
witch-e-wee-o,  witch-e-wee-o,  witch-e-wee-o ,'  movements  restless; 
abundant 681.  Maryland  Yellow-throat. 

681&.  Florida  Yellow-throat  (Fla.). 

d.  Head  and  back  olive-green ;  wings  with  two  white  bars ;  outer 
'  tail-feathers  white ;  haunts  pine  woods ;  song,  a  musical  trill. 

671.  Pine  Warbler. 

e.  Crown  bluish  ash,  eye-ring  white ;  call-note  sometimes  like  the 
sound  produced  by  striking  two  pebbles  together. 

645.  Nashville  Warbler, 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  341 

/.  Forehead  yellow,  a  small  black  mark  in  front  of  the  eye ;  wings 
with  two  white  bars ;  outer  tail-feathers  white  ;  song,  swee-chee^ 
the  first  note  higher,  and  also  wee^  cM-chi-chi-cM,  chur^  chle-chur. 

641.  Blue-winged  Warblek. 
g.  Forehead  yellow :  crown-cap  black ;  cheeks  yellow ;  wings  and 
tail  unmarked  ;  rather  rare     ....     685.  Wilson's  Warbler. 
2.  Throat  white  or  whitish. 

A.  Length  5-00 ;  crown  brown  or  with  blackish  and  bufty  stripes. 

a.  A  conspicuous  whitish  line  through  the  center  of  the  crown,  bor- 
dered by  black  lines;  not  common. 

639.    WOBM-EATING    WaRBLER. 

I.  Crown  plain  brown ;  range,  North  Carolina  and  southward. 

638.  Swainson's  Warbler. 

B.  Length  4-50  ;  crown  ashy  or  forehead  yellow. 
o.  Forehead  yellow. 

a^.  Breast  white,  with  a  barely  perceptible  tinge  of  yellow  ;  wing- 
bars  white  or  yellow,  a  black  mark  in  front  of  the  eye ;  rare. 

641  +  642.  Brewster's  Warbler. 

h.  Forehead  not  yellow. 

Ji.  Breast  white,  crown  plain  bluish  ashy,  clearly  defined  from 

the  bright  olive-green  back  .     .     .     647.  Tennessee  Warbler. 

V^.  Breast  whitish,  tinged  with  yellow  and  indistinctly  streaked 

with  dusky  :  crown  dull  ashy,  not  clearly  defined  from  the  back 

and  with  a  partly  concealed  patch  of  rufous- brown ;  very  rare 

in  the  Atlantic  States  north  of  South  Carolina. 

646.  Orange-crowned  Warbler. 
II.  Throat  black»  bro\m,  or  slate-color. 
1.  Belly  white. 
a.  Back  blue,  a  white  spot  near  the  outer  edge  of  the  wing ;  common. 

654.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler. 
h.  Back  green,  cheeks  yellow ;  song,  a  buzzlike  zee  repeated  five  or 
six  times,  the  next  to  last  note  the  highest ;  common. 

667.  Black-throated  Green  Warbler. 

c.  Back  grayish,  forehead  yellow,  a  black  mark  through  the  eye  and 
a  white  line  below  it ;  a  large  patch  of  yellow  on  the  wings ;  song, 
zee-zee-zee-zee^  all  on  the  same  note ;  not  common. 

642.  Golden-winged  Warbler. 

d.  Back  black ;  sides  of  the  breast,  middle  of  the  wing,  and  base  of 
the  tail-feathers  reddish  orange  ;  movements  active,  tail  frequently 
spread,  the  reddish  color  showing  conspicuously  ;  abundant. 

687.  Eedstart. 

e.  Back  streaked  with  black  and  white;  song  fine  and  wiry;  move- 
ments like  those  of  a  Creeper;  common. 

636.  Black  and  White  Warbler. 

f.  Back  streaked  with  bufty  and  black;  forehead  and  cheeks  black: 
crown-cap,  throat,  upper  part  of  the  breast,  and  sides  chestnut; 
rather  rare 660.  Bay-breasted  Warbler, 


3i^  WOOD  WARBLERS. 

2.  Belly  yellow. 

A.  Throat  slate-color  ;  haunts  near  the  ground. 

a.  Breast  showing  traces  of  black,  no  white  eye-ring ;  rare  in  mosi; 
places 679.  Mourning  Warbler. 

b.  Breast  with  no  traces  of  black,  a  white  eye-ring ;  call  a  sharp 
peeh ;  very  rare  in  the  spring    .     .     678.  Connecticut  Warbler. 

B.  Throat  black. 

a.  Forehead  and  crown  yellow,  wings  with  white  bars,  a  black 
line  through  the  eye ;  very  rare. 

641  -1-  642.  Lawrence's  Warbler. 

J.  Forehead  and  cheeks  yellow,  rest  of  the  head  and  sides  of  the 
neck  black  ;  outer  tail-feathers  almost  entirely  white ;  haunts  near 
the  ground,  generally  in  wet  woods ;  movements  active,  the  white 
tail-feathers  showing  conspicuously  in  flight;  lower  Hudson  Val- 
ley southward ;  common 684.  Hooded  Warbler. 

c.  Forehead  yellow,  a  small  black  patch  on  the  crown,  white  patches 
on  the  tail  not  reaching  to  the  ends  of  the  feathers ;  range.  South 
Carolina  southward 640.  Bachman's  Warbler. 

HI*  Throat  yellow  or  orange,  under  parts  "mth  streaks. 
(In  one  species  a  blackish  brown  band  across  the 
breast. ) 

1.  Belly  white,  with  or  without  black  streaks. 

a.  Throat  rich  orange ;  back,  black  streaked  with  white ;  tolerably 
common 662.  Blackburnian  Warbler. 

h.  Throat  bright  yellow,  back  grayish  ;  range,  Virginia  southward  ; 

abundant 663.  Yellow-throated  Warbler. 

663a.  Sycamore   Warbler. 

c.  Throat  yellow,  with  a  blackish  band  crossing  the  upper  part  of  the 
breast ;  abundant 648.  Parula  Warbler. 

2.  Belly  yellow,  with  streaks  or  spots  on  the  breast  or  sides. 
A.   With  black  streaks  or  spots  on  the  under  parts. 

a.  Back  grayish,  unstreaked  ;  a  necklace  of  black  spots  on  the  breast ; 
no  streaks  on  the  sides  or  white  on  the  wings  or  tail ;  common. 

686.  Canadian  Warbler. 

h.  Back  black,  crown  grayish,  a  black  stripe  through  the  eye;  breast 
and  sides  streaked  with  black ;  end  of  tail  black,  a  white  band 
across  its  middle ;  common   ....     657.  Magnolia  Warbler. 

c.  Back  streaked  with  white,  center  of  the  crown  and  line  over  the 
eye  orange 662.  Blackburnian  Warbler. 

d.  Back  greenish,  streaked  with  black  ;  crown  black,  a  rufous  ear- 
patch,  a  white  patch  on  the  wings, rump  yellow;  rare. 

650.  Cape  May  Warbler. 

e.  Back  greenish,  with  a  patch  of  rufous-brown ;  haunts  second 
growths  and  old  bush-grown  pastures ;  common  in  some  places. 

673.  Prairie  Warbler. 
f.  Back  grayish,  streaked  with  black  ;  crown  bluish  ;  no  conspicuous 
white  marking  on  the  wings ;  very  rare  in  the  United  States. 

670.  Kirtland's  Warbler. 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  343 

B.  Under  parts  with  rufous-hrown  streaks. 

a.  Crown  yellow,  back  greenish,  inner  border  of  tail-feathers  yel- 
low; general  appearance  th^t  of  a  yellow  bird;  haunts  lawns, 
orchards,  and  second  growths  ;  rarely  seen  in  deep  woods ;  abun- 
dant     652.  Yellow  Warbler. 

b.  Crown  chestnut,  back  brownish,  outer  tail-feathers  tipped  with 
white ;  haunts  near  the  ground,  frequently  seen  along  roadsides 
and  in  old  fields ;  movements  leisurely,  constantly  wags  its  tail ; 
common  .  672.  Palm  Warbler.     672a.  Yellow  Palm  Warbler. 

rv.  Throat  ivhite  or  w^hitish,  with  streaks  or  spots  on  the 
under  parts.  (In  two  species  a  yellow  patch  on  the 
sides  of  the  breast.) 

1.  A  patch  of  yellow  on  the  sides  of  the  breast. 

a.  Back  grayish,  streaked  with  black ;  rump  and  a  partly  concealed 
crown-patch  yellow ;  note,  a  loud  tcMp^  generally  uttered  during 
flight;  abundant 655.  Myrtle  Warbler. 

b.  Back  brown,  breast  more  or  less  spotted  with  black ;  a  yellow  band 
across  the  middle  of  wings  and  tail;  movements  active,  tail  fre- 
quently spread,  the  yellow  band  showing  conspicuously ;  abundant. 

687.  Kedstart  (Im.). 

2.  No  yellow  patch  on  the  sides  of  the  breast. 

A.  With  wing-bars  ;  back  streaked  with  black ;  haunts  in  trees. 

a.  Back  bright  blue ;  very  rare  near  the  Atlantic  coast. 

658.  Cerulean  Warbler. 

b.  Back  grayish,  crown  black ;  movements  slow ;  abundant. 

661.  Black-poll  Warbler. 

c.  Back  greenish  yellow,  crown  bright  yellow,  sides  chestnut ;  com- 
mon      659.  Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 

£.  W  ithout  wing-bars ;  back  not  streaked ;  haunts  on  or  near  the 
ground  ;  ivalhers,  not  hoppers. 

a.  Crown  pale  rufous,  bordered  by  black  streaks  ;  song,  a  loud  teacher., 
repeated  eight  or  nine  times  and  increasing  in  volume  ;  common. 

674.    OVENBIRD. 

b.  Crown  like  the  back,  breast  with  a  tinge  of  sulphur-yellow,  an 
inconspicuous  buflFy  line  over  the  eye ;  bill  less  than  -50  in  length  ; 
common 675.  Water  Thrush. 

c.  Crown  like  the  back,  breast  and  particularly  flanks  tinged  with 
buffy,  a  conspicuous  white  line  over  the  eye ;  bill  nearly  -75  in 
length  ;  a  far  shyer  bird  than  the  preceding;  song  loud  and  ring- 
ing ;  not  common    .    .    .     .    .     676.  Louisiana  Water  Thrush, 

636.  Mniotilta  varia  (Linn.).    Black  and  White  Warbler;  Black 

AND  White  Creeper.  (Fig.  93.)  Ad.  $  . — No  yellow  anywhere ;  upper  parts 
streaked  with  black  and  white;  ear- coverts  black;  inner  webs  of  outer  tail- 
feathers  with  white  patches ;  wing-coverts  black,  tipped  with  white ;  throat 
and  upper  breast  black  or  black  and  white ;  sides  streaked  with  black  and 
white;  middle  of  the  belly  white.  Ad.  9. — Similar,  but  the  under  parts 
with  fewer  black  streaks ;  sides  washed  with  brownish.    Jm.  $ . — Similar  to 


344  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

the  9  ,  but  with  more  streaks  on  the  under  parts.  L.,  5-30;  W.,  2-73;  T.,  2-02; 
B.  from  N.,  -37. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  the  Southern  States  north 
to  Fort  Simpson  ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  abundant  T.  V.,-less  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  12  to  Oct.  16.  Sing 
Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  18  to  Oct.  1.  Cambridge,  very  common  S.  R.,  Apl. 
25  to  Sept.  5. 

AW,  of  strips  of  bark,  grasses,  etc.,  lined  with  rootlets  or  long  hairs,  on  the 
ground  at  the  base  of  a  stump,  log,  or  rock.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white,  spotted 
and  speckled  with  cinnamon-brown  to  umber,  chiefly  in  a  wreath  at  the  larger 
end,  -68  x  -54 

None  of  our  Warblers  can  be  more  readily  identified  than  this  con- 
spicuously marked  creeper.  It  is  generally  distributed  throughout 
woodland,  and  climbs  with  even  more  agility  than  a  true  Creeper, 
hanging  from  the  under  surface  of  branches  and  twigs,  and  flitting 
actively  from  tree  to  tree  after  apparently  the  most  superficial  exami- 
nation. 

It  is  a  generally  silent  bird,  intent  on  food-getting,  and  its  thin, 
wiry  notes,  see-see-see-see,  are  not  frequently  uttered. 

637.  Protonotaria  citrea  {Bodd.).  Pkothonotary  Warbler. 
Ad.  6  . — Whole  head,  neck,  and  under  parts  rich  orange,  lighter  on  the  belly  ; 
back  greenish  yellow,  changing  to  bluish  gray  on  the  rump ;  wings  and  tail 
ashy ;  inner  webs  of  all  but  the  middle  tail-feathers  white,  except  at  the  tip ; 
no  wing- bars.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  the  yellow  is  paler,  the  belly  with  more 
white.    L.,  5-50 ;  W.,  2-90;  T.,  1-85  ;  B.  from  N.,  -42. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  southern 
Illinois  and  Virginia;  wanders  casually  to  Maine ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  of  irregular  occurrence  in  summer. 

Nest.,  of  rootlets,  fine  twigs,  and  moss,  plant  down  or  feathers,  in  a  hole  in 
a  stub  or  stump,  generally  of  a  willow  tree.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  white,  thickly 
and  rather  coarsely  marked  distinctly  and  obscurely  with  cinnamon- brown, 
chestnut,  or  rufous-brown,  -69  x  -56. 

This  exquisite  Warbler  frequents  bushes  and  low  trees — particu- 
larly willow  trees — hanging  over  the  water.  Its  call-note  so  closely 
resembles  that  of  a  Water  Thrush  (Seiurus),  1  have  sometimes  mis- 
taken it  for  that  species.  Its  usual  song,  as  Mr.  Brewster  remarks  in 
his  admirable  biography*  of  this  species,  "sounds  at  a  distance  like 
the  call  of  the  Solitary  Sandpiper,  with  a  syllable  or  two  added — a 
simple  joee^,  tweet,  tweet,  tweet,  given  on  the  same  key  throughout.  .  .  . 
Nearer  at  hand,  however,  the  resemblance  is  lost,  and  a  ringing,  pene- 
trating quality  becomes  apparent  in  the  Warbler's  song." 

To  thoroughly  appreciate  the  Prothonotary's  radiant  beauty,  one 

*  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  iii,  1878,  pp.  153-162. 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  345 

should  float  quietly  in  a  canoe  past  its  haunts.  Its  color  shows  to  best 
advantage  against  the  dark  background  of  its  home,  and  its  every 
movement  is  a  delight  to  the  eye. 

638.  Helina;ia/  swainsonii  Aud.  Swainson's  Warbler.  Ad.^ 
Crown  cinnamon- brown  ;  a  whitish  line  over  the  eye ;  back,  rump,  wings,  and 
tail  olive  grayish  brown  without  white ;  under  parts  soiled  yellowish  white, 
grayer  on  the  sides.    L.,  5-00 ;  W.,  2-75  ;  T.,  1-90 ;  B.  from  N.,  -46. 

Range. — Southern  United  States,  north  to  North  Carolina  and  Missouri ; 
south  in  winter  to  the  tropics. 

Nest^i  externally  of  leaves,  lined  with  pine  needles  and  rootlets,  in  bushes, 
canes,  palmettos,  and  clumps  of  vines,  from  three  to  ten  feet  above  the  ground 
or  surface  of  the  water.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  white,  with  a  faint  bluish  tinge, 
•75  X  -54  (Davie). 

The  history  of  Swainson's  Warbler  is  very  similar  to  that  of  Bach- 
man's  Warbler.  It  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Bachman  near  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  in  1832,  and  for  somewhat  over  fifty  years  was  prac- 
tically a  lost  species,  but  proves  now  to  be  a  common  bird  in  some 
parts  of  its  range.  Its  rediscovery  near  Charleston  by  Mr.  A.  T.  Wayne 
and  Mr.  Brewster  is  recounted  by  the  latter  in  an  article  *  which  ade- 
quately portrays  the  bird,  its  habits  and  haunts.  It  lives  on  and  near 
the  ground,  and,  according  to  Mr.  Brewster's  experience,  four  things 
seem  indispensable  to  its  existence — "  water,  tangled  thickets,  patches 
of  cane,  and  a  rank  growth  of  semi-aquatic  plants."  Its  song,  which 
is  highly  ventriloquial,  is  described  by  the  same  author  as  "  a  series  of 
clear,  ringing  whistles,  the  first  four  uttered  rather  slowly  and  in  the 
same  key,  the  remaining  five  or  six  given  more  rapidly,  and  in  an 
evenly  descending  scale.  ...  In  general  effect  it  recalls  the  song  of 
the  Water  Thrush  {Seiurus  noveboracensis).  It  is  very  loud,  very  rich, 
very  beautiful,  while  it  has  an  indescribable  tender  quality  that  thrills 
the  senses  after  the  sound  has  ceased." 

639.  Helmitherus  vermivorus  ( Gmel.).  Worm-eating  Warbler. 
(Fig.  94.)  Ad. — A  black  line  from  the  eye  to  the  nape,  and  two  on  the  crown 
from  either  nostril ;  an  olive-buffy  line  over  either  eye,  and  a  third  through 
the  center  of  the  crown ;  back,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green  without  white ; 
under  parts  whitish  cream-buff,  whiter  on  the  throat  and  belly.  L.,  5-51 ;  W., 
2-78  ;  T.,  2-05 ;  B.  from  N.,  -39. 

Range. — ^Eastern  United  States;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  north  to 
southern  Illinois  and  southern  Connecticut ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  quite  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  28  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  E.,  May  7  to  Aug.  23.     Cambridge,  A.  V.,  one  instance,  Sept. 

Nest.^  of  rootlets,  leaves,  and  bark,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  white, 
speckled,  spotted,  or  blotched  with  cinnamon-  or  rufous-brown,  -SS  x  -54. 

*  The  Auk,  ii.  1885,  pp.  65-80 ;  see  also  ibid.,  pp.  346-348,  and  also  Perry,  Orn. 
and  061.,  xi,  1886,  p.  188  ;  xii,  1887,  p.  141. 


346  WOOD  WARBLERS. 

This  comparatively  rare,  retiring  Warbler  may  be  found  on  dry 
wooded  slopes,  hillsides,  and  ravines,  generally  where  there  is  a  rather 
dense  undergrowth,  but  occasionally  where  the  ground  is  quite  clear 
and  open.  It  lives  on  or  near  the  ground,  and  in  its  slow,  deliberate 
actions  resembles  a  Vireo  more  than  the  usually  active  Warblers.  Its 
call-note  is  a  sharp  chip,  while  its  song,  as  all  observers  agree,  closely 
resembles  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  but  is  somewhat  weaker. 

640.  Helininthophila<  bachmani  {Aud.).  Eachkan's  Wakbler. 
Ad.  &  . — Forehead  yellow,  bordered  by  a  black  patch  on  the  crown ;  back  of 
the  head  bluish  gray ;  back  and  rump  bright  olive-green  ;  lesser  wing-coverts 
yellow  ;  tail  grayish,  all  but  the  middle  feathers  with  white  patches  on  their 
inner  web  near  the  tips ;  throat  and  belly  yellow,  a  large  black  patch  on  the 
breast.  Ad.  9  . — Crown  grayish ;  forehead  yellowish ;  back,  wings,  and  tail 
as  in  the  5  ;  under  parts  whitish,  washed  with  yellow  on  the  throat  and  breast ; 
bend  of  the  wing  yellow.     L.,  4-25 ;  W.,  2-40 ;  T.,  1-80 ;  B.  from  N.,  -32. 

Range. — Southeastern  United  States,  west  to  New  Orleans,  north  to  South 
Carolina;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba,  and  probably  Central  America;  accidental 
in  Virginia. 

'-'■  Nest.,  in  low  trees.  Eggs.,  four,"  dull  grayish  white,  heavily  blotched 
with  umber  in  the  form  of  a  broken  band  about  the  larger  end,  a  few  spots 
and  specks  of  the  same  color,  and  numerous  irregular,  obscure  lavender  mark- 
ings are  distributed  over  the  remaining  surface,  -74  x  -60.  (Described  from 
only  known  specimen,  collected  by  Dr.  S.  W.  Wilson  on  St.  Simon's  Island, 
Georgia,  April  30,  1854;  see  Bailey,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  viii,  1883,  p.  38.) 

Bachman's  Warbler  was  described  by  Audubon  from  a  pair  of  birds 
taken  by  Dr.  Bachman  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  July,  1833. 
Several  specimens  were  subsequently  taken  in  the  West  Indies  during 
the  winter,  but  over  fifty  years  passed  before  the  species  was  again 
found  in  the  United  States.  It  proves  now  to  be  a  common  bird  in 
parts  of  its  range,  and  has  been  found  in  large  numbers  near  New 
Orleans,  and  on  the  Suwanee  River  in  Florida  in  March  and  April, 
and  at  Key  West  in  late  July  and  August.  At  each  of  these  places, 
however,  it  has  been  observed  only  as  a  migrant,  and  its  breeding 
home  is  still  unknown. 

Mr.  Brewster  and  myself  had  excellent  opportunities  to  study  its 
habits  on  the  Suwanee  River,  and  in  The  Auk  for  1891,  pp.  149-157, 
will  be  found  a  detailed  account  of  our  observations  written  by  Mr. 
Brewster.  It  was  migrating  with  other  Warblers,  and  kept  to  the 
tops  of  the  highest  trees.  It  is  not  improbable,  however,  that  when 
in  its  breeding  haunts  it  may  prove  to  be  a  low-ranging  bird  like  most 
of  the  members  of  this  genus.  Its  movements  were  rather  leisurely, 
and  resembled  those  of  //.  pinus  or  H.  celata.  Its  song,  which  only 
Mr.  Brewster  was  fortunate  enough  to  hear,  is  described  by  him  as 
resembling  the  song  of  the  Parula  Warbler, 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  347 

641.  Helminthophila  pinus  {Linn.).  Blue-winged  Warbler. 
(Fig.  95.)  Ad.  6  . — Crown  unci  entire  under  parts  bright  yellow,  a  black  line 
through  the  eye;  back  and  rump  bright  olive-green;  wings  and  tail  bluish 
gray  ;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white  or  yellowish  white  ; 
outer  three  tail-feathers  with  large  white  patches  on  their  inner  webs,  fourth 
feather  with  a  much  smaller  patch.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  yellow  on  the  head 
confined  to  the  forehead  ;  under  parts  duller.  L.,  4-80  ;  W.,  2-40  ;  T.,  1-80  ;  B. 
from  N.,  -33. 

EemarTcs. — The  only  variation  of  note  in  the  plumage  of  otherwise  typical 
specimens  of  this  species  occurs  in  the  color  of  the  wing-bars,  which  in  some 
specimens  are  tinged  with  yellow.  A  specimen  in  Mr.  Brewster's  collection 
(No.  25,511,  Seymour,  Conn.,  June  11, 1889,  E.  A.  Eames)  shows  this  variation 
carried  to  an  extreme,  and  has  the  wing-bars  as  broadly  yellow  as  in  H.  chrys- 
optera.,  though  in  every  other  respect  it  is  typical  pinus.  Between  this  spe- 
cies and  H.  chrysoptera  there  exists  a  complete  set  of  intergrades,  which  are 
variously  called  H.  leucobronchialis  and  H.  lawrencei.  They  are  generally 
considered  to  be  hybrids,  and  it  has  also  been  suggested  that  dichromatism 
may  aid  in  producing  their  coloration.  Their  relationships  will  be  found  dis- 
cussed under  the  following  references :  Brewster,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  vi, 
1881,  p.  218;  Eidgway,  Auk,  ii,  1885,  p.  359;  Manual  N.  A.  Birds,  1887, 
p.  486. 

Range, — Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  southern  Minnesota 
and  Connecticut ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  rather  uncommon  T.  V.,  Apl.  28  to  May  25 ;  Aug.  5  to  Sept. ; 
a  few  breed.     Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  May  4  to  Sept.  7. 

Nest.,  of  bark  and  leaves,  lined  with  fine  strips  of  bark  and  tendrils,  and 
firmly  wrapped  with  numerous  leaves,  whose  stems  point  upward,  on  the 
ground,  generally  in  or  at  the  border  of  second  growth.  Eggs.,  four  to  six, 
white,  thinly  speckled  with  rufous,  cinnamon-brown,  or  rufous-brown, 
•62  X  -50. 

This  species  may  be  found  in  scrubby  second  growths,  woodland 
borders,  or  even  the  lovs^er  trees  of  dense  woods.  Its  movements  are 
rather  slow  and  leisurely,  and,  like  a  Chickadee,  it  may  sometimes  be 
seen  hanging  head  downward  while  searching  for  food. 

It  is  at  times  a  rather  persistent  songster,  and  its  peculiar  song  is 
not  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  that  of  any  other  Warbler.  As  a  rule, 
it  consists  of  the  two  drawled,  wheezy  notes  swee-chee  ;  the  first  inhaled, 
the  second  exhaled.  A  less  common  song,  uttered  later  in  the  season, 
is  wee,  cM-cM-cM-ch%  chilr,  chee-chur,  and  is  sometimes  accompanied 
by  peculiar  kiJc  notes. 

Helminthophila  leucobronchialis  (Brewst.).  Brewster's  War- 
bler. Ad.  $  . — Forehead  and  fore  part  of  the  crown  yellowy  a  black  line 
from  the  bill  through  the  eye:  rest  of  the  upper  parts  bluish  gray;  wing- 
bars  broadly  yellow ;  tail  like  the  back,  three  to  four  outer  feathers  marked 
with  white;  under  parts  pure  white,  faintly  washed  with  yellow  on  the 
breast.     Fall  specimens  are  more  heavily  washed  with  yellow,  and  the  upper 


348  WOOD  WARBLERS. 

parts  are  margined  with  olive-green.     Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  wing-bars  white, 
and  crown  not  so  bright. 

Bemarks. — The  descriptions  are  from  typical  specimens  of  the  puzzling 
bird  known  as  Helminthophila  leucobronchialis.  Between  it  and  H.  pinus 
there  are  specimens  showing  every  degree  of  intergradation.  Typical  exam- 
ples are  comparatively  rare,  and  the  most  common  form  has  the  breast  heavily 
washed  with  yellow,  the  back  tinged  with  olive-green,  and  the  white  wing- 
bars  washed  with  yellow ;  in  other  words,  about  intermediate  between  typ- 
ical leucobronchialis  and  typical  pinus. 

This  hybrid,  color  phase,  or  species — I  do  not  presume  to  say  what 
it  is,  for  I  think  some  day  we  may  understand  its  relationships  more 
fully — has  been  found  in  Louisiana,  from  Virginia  northward  to  Con- 
necticut, and  as  far  west  as  Michigan.  Its  breeding  range  appar- 
ently coincides  with  that  of  H.  pinus.  Upward  of  one  hundred  speci- 
mens, representing  typical  leucobronchialis  and  various  phases  of  its 
intergradation  with  pinus  are  known,  and  in  the  Connecticut  River 
Valley  the  bird  is  stated  to  be  more  frequent  than  H.  chrysoptera. 
In  general  habits  it  resembles  both  pinus  and  chrysoptera.  Some  in- 
dividuals sing  like  the  former,  some  like  the  latter,  while  others  have 
notes  of  their  own.  (See  Fisher,  Ball.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  iv,  1879,  p. 
234:  vi,  1881,  p.  245;  Auk,  ii,  1885,  p.  378;  Chapman,  ibid.,  iv,  1887, 
p.  348 ;  ix,  1892,  p.  302 ;  Eames,  ibid.,  v,  1888,  p.  427 ;  vi,  1889,  p.  305 ; 
Bishop,  ibid.,  vi,  1889,  p.  192 ;  Sage,  ibid.,  vi,  1889,  p.  279 ;  x,  1893, 
p.  208.) 

Helminthophila  lai^rencei  (Herrick).  Lawrence's  Warbler. — 
Ad.  $  . — Forehead  and  fore  part  of  the  crown  yellow,  rest  of  the  upper  parts 
bright  olive-green ;  wing-bars  white ;  tail  bluish  gray,  the  three  to  four  outer 
feathers  marked  with  white ;  a  black  patch  on  the  cheek  divided  by  a  yellow 
line  from  the  black  patch  on  the  throat  and  upper  breast ;  lower  breast  and 
belly  yellow,  under  tail-coverts  white.  Ad.  9  . — Forehead  dingy  yellow, 
rest  of  the  upper  parts  bright  olive-green ;  wing-bars  white,  tinged  with  yel- 
low ;  tail  as  in  the  S  ,  black  patches  of  the  $  replaced  by  dusky  olive-green. 

Remarks. — This  bird  combines  the  characters  of  pinus  and  chrysoptera  ; 
it  has  the  black  cheek-patches  and  breast-patch  of  the  latter,  but  in  other 
respects  resembles  the  former,  and  is  doubtless  a  hybrid  between  the  two. 
Its  history  and  a  discussion  of  its  relationships  will  be  found  under  the  refer- 
ences given  above.  It  is  a  much  rarer  bird  than  Brewster's  Warbler,  and 
less  than  a  dozen  specimens  have  been  recorded. 

642.  Helminthophila  chrysoptera  (Linn.).  Golden-wikged 
Warbler.  (Fig.  96.)  Ad.  $  . — Crown  bright  yellow;  rest  of  the  upper  parts 
bluish  gray,  sometimes  washed  with  greenish  ;  a  large  black  patch  about  the 
eye,  separated  from  another  on  the  throat  by  a  white  stripe ;  a  white  line  over 
the  eye ;  wmgs  and  tail  bluish  gray ;  tips  of  middle  wing-coverts  and  outer 
webs  of  greater  ones  bright  yellow,  forming  a  large  yellow  patch  on  the  wing ; 
outer  three  tail-feathers  with  large  white  patches  on  their  inner  webs  at  the 


WOOD  WARBLERS.  349 

tip,  fourth  feather  with  a  smaller  patch ;  lower  breast  and  belly  white ;  sides 
grayish.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  the  crown  duller,  the  patch  on  the  sides  of 
the  head  and  throat  grayish  instead  of  black.  L.,  5-10;  W.,  2*46;  T.,  1-94; 
B.  from  N.,  -34. 

Eange. — Eastern  Dnited  States;  breeds  from  Indiana  and  northern  New 
Jersey  north  to  Michigan,  southern  Ontario,  and  Vermont ;  south  along  the 
Alleghanies  to  South  Carolina ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  uncommon  T.  V.,  May  1  to  28  ;  Aug.  Sing  Sing,  rare  S.  R., 
May  8  to  Aug.  25.     Cambridge,  not  uncommon  S.  R.,  May  12  to  Aug.  25. 

Nest.,  much  like  that  of  H.  pinus,  on  or  near  the  ground,  in  second 
growths  or  bushy  fields.  S^ffffs,  four  to  six,  white,  speckled  and  spotted, 
chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  with  cinnamon-brown,  chestnut,  or  umber, 
•fi2  X  -50. 

In  their  actions  and  choice  of  haunts  the  Golden- winged  resemble 
the  Blue-winged  Warblers.  Their  song  is  of  much  the  same  quality, 
but  the  notes  are  all  of  the  same  kind  and  length,  and  the  bird  utters 
a  rather  lazy  zee-zee-zee-zee,  at  once  distinguishable  from  the  song  of 
pinus. 

645.  Helxninthophila  ruficapUla  (  WUs.).  Nashville  Wab- 
BLER.  Ad. — Top  and  sides  of  the  head  bluish  gray,  a  partially  concealed 
chestnut  patch  in  the  center  of  the  crown  ;  back  and  rump  bright  olive-green ; 
wings  and  tail  edged  with  the  same  and  without  white ;  under  parts  bright 
yellow,  whiter  on  the  belly.  Im. — Upper  parts  dull  olive-green,  more  or  less 
washed  with  brownish;  rump  brighter;  wings  and  tail  as  in  the  ad.;  sides 
of  the  head  brownish  ashy,  eye-ring  white ;  under  parts  yellowish,  brighter 
on  the  breast;  sides  brownish.  L.,  4-77;  W.,  2-33;  T.,  1-81;  B.  from 
N.,  -28. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  northern  Illinois  and 
Connecticut  northward  to  Labrador  and  the  fur  countries ;  winters  in  the 
tropics. 

Washington,  uncommon  T.  V.,  May  5  to  20;  Sept.  5  to  20.  Sing  Sing, 
tolerably  common  T.  V.,  May  7  to  27;  Aug.  11  to  Oct.  4;  may  breed.  Cam- 
bridge, rather  common  S.  R.,  May  5  to  Oct.  1,  more  common  T.  V. 

Nest.1  of  grasses  and  moss,  lined  with  finer  grasses  and  fine,  hairlike  root- 
lets, on  the  ground,  in  partial  clearings  or  tree-grown  pastures.  Eggs.,  four 
to  five,  white,  thickly  speckled,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  rufous  or  cin- 
namon-brown, '61  X  -48. 

This  Warbler  is  an  inhabitant  of  rather  open  woodland,  young 
second  growth,  or  tree-bordered  fields.  In  addition  to  the  usual  chip, 
it  has  a  sharp,  characteristic  call-note,  while  its  song  is  about  as  likely 
to  attract  attention  as  that  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler.  Minot 
writes  it  "  wee -see-ivee' -see,  wit -a-ivit' -a-ivW ,''^  while  Langille  gives  it 
as  "  he-isee-'ke-tsee-Ue-tsee-chip-ee-chip-ee-chip-ee-chip,^''  and  compares 
the  first  half  to  the  penetrating  notes  of  the  Black  and  White  Warbler, 
and  the  last  half  to  the  twitter  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow. 


350  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

646.  Helminthophila  cela>ta>  {Say).  Orange-crowned  Warbler. 
Ad. — Upper  parts  rather  ashy  olive-green;  feathers  of  the  crown  orange- 
rufous  at  the  base  ;  wings  and  tail  edged  with  olive-green  and  without  white  ; 
eye-ring  yellow :  under  parts  greenish  yellow,  obscurely  streaked  with  dusky 
on  the  breast.  Im. — Similar,  but  without  orange-rufous  in  the  crown  ;  upper 
parts  more  ashy;  under  parts  duller;  eye-ring  white.  L.,  5-00;  W.,  2-50; 
T.,  1-95  ;  B.  from  N.,  -31. 

Eange.—Bxecd^i  in  the  interior  of  British  Columbia,  and  as  far  north  as 
the  "Yukon  and  Mackenzie  Eiver  districts,  and  southward  through  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  winters  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  and 
Mexico." 

"Washington,  casual  T.  V.,  one  instance,  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  A.  V.  Cam- 
bridge, rare  T.  V.,  in  fall,  Sept.  30 ;  Oct.  2. 

Nest^  of  leaves  and  fine  grasses,  on  or  near  the  ground.  Eggs.^  four  to  five, 
white,  with  specks  or  spots  of  cinnamon-brown  or  rufous,  more  numerous  at 
the  larger  end,  -63  x  -49. 

Orange-crowned  Warblers  are  rare  in  the  North  Atlantic  States. 
In  Florida,  where  they  are  common  in  the  winter,  they  evidently  pre- 
fer the  densely  foliaged  live  and  water  oaks.  Their  sharp  chip  is  sufS- 
ciently  characteristic  to  be  recognized  after  one  has  become  thoroughly 
familiar  with  it.  Their  song,  which  I  have  never  heard,  is  described 
by  Colonel  Goss  as  consisting  of  "  a  few  sweet  trills  uttered  in  a  spir- 
ited manner,  and  abruptly  ending  on  a  rising  scale." 

647.  Helminthophila  peregrina  (  Wils.).    Tennessee  Warbler. 

(See  Fig.  53,  a.)  Ad.  ^  .^Top  and  sides  of  the  head  bluish  gray,  sharply  de- 
fined from  the  bright  olive-green  back  and  rump ;  wings  and  tail  edged  with 
olive-green  ;  no  white  wing-bars  ;■  inner  margin  of  inner  vane  of  outer  tail- 
feathers  generally  white  at  the  tip  ;  under  parts  white,  sometimes  tinged  with 
yellow.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  crown  tinged  with  greenish  and  under  parts 
washed  with  yellowish.  Im. — Upper  parts  uniform  olive-green  ;  under  parts 
washed  with  yellowish  ;  under  tail-coverts  wJiite.  L.,  5-00 ;  W.,  2-63  ;  T.,  1-69 ; 
B.  from  N.,  -32. 

Remarks. — The  adults  of  this  and  the  two  preceding  species  may  be  dis- 
tinguished with  ease;  immature  birds,  however,  are  frequently  confused. 
The  Nashville  is  distinctly  yellotv  on  the  breast  and  under  tail-coverts;  the 
Orange-crowned  is  pale  greenish  yellow,  with  dusky  streaks  and  yellow 
under  tail-coverts ;  the  Tennessee  is  pale  greenish  yellow,  without  streaks, 
and  with  the  under  tail-coverts  white. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Minnesota,  northern  New 
York,  and  New  Brunswick  northward;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  T.  V.,  not  observed  in  spring ;  occasionally  common  in  fall, 
Aug.  25  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  May  22  to  27 ;  Aug.  22  to  Oct.  2. 
Cambridge,  rare  T.  V.,  May  15  to  28  ;  Sept. 

Nest.^  of  fine  hempen  fibers,  grasses,  and  moss,  lined  with  hair,  in  low 
bushes  near  the  ground.  JEggs.,  pearly  white,  with  a  circle  of  brown  and  pur- 
plish  spots  about  the  larger  end,  -60  x  -50  (B.,  B.,  and  K.). 


WOOD   WARBLERS. 


351 


Fio.  93.— Black  and  White  Warbler. 


Fia.  97.— Parula  Warbler. 


Fia.  94.— Worm-eating  Warbler. 


Fio.  98.— Myrtle  Warbler. 


ffiG.  95.— Blue-winged  Warbler. 


Fig.  99.— Magnolia  Warbler. 


Fig.  96.— Golden-winged  Warbler.  Fig.  100.— Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 

Figs.  93-100.— Heads  of  Warblers.    (Natural  size.) 


352  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

This  bird  has  the  general  habits  of  the  Orange-crowned  or  Nashville 
Warblers.  Ernest  Thompson  describes  its  song  as  beginning  with  a 
note  like  chipiti,  chipiti,  repeated  a  dozen  or  more  times,  with  increas- 
ing rapidity,  then  suddenly  changed  into  a  mere  twitter.  Bradford 
Torrey  says  the  Tennessee's  song  "  is  more  suggestive  of  the  Nash- 
ville's than  of  any  other,  but  so  decidedly  different  as  never  for  a  mo- 
ment to  be  confounded  with  it,"  and  adds  a  detailed  description  (The 
Footpath  Way,  p.  8). 

648.  Compsothlypis  americana  (Linn.).  Parula  Warbler  ; 
Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler.  (Fig.  97.)  Ad.  $ . — Upper  parts  grayish 
blue ;  a  greenish-yellow  patch  in  the  middle  of  the  bach  ;  greater  and  lesser 
wing-coverts  tipped  with  white ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  a  white  patch  near 
the  end ;  throat  and  breast  yellow,  more  or  less  marked  with  pale  rufous,  a 
Mach^  or  bluish  blach,  or  vufous  band  across  the  breast ;  belly  white ;  sides 
sometimes  marked  with  rufous.  Ad.  9 . — Similar,  but  the  rufous  color  and 
band  on  the  breast  sometimes  absent.  Irti. — Like  the  9  .  L.,  4-73  ;  W.,  2*40 ; 
T.,  1-76;  B.  from  N., -32. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  northward 
to  Anticosti ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  20  to  May  20 ;  Aug.  20  to  Oct.  15 ;  a 
few  breed.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  May  2  to  28  ;  Sept.  21  to  Oct.  7.  Cam- 
bridge, common  T.  V.,  May  1  to  28 ;  Sept.  10  to  30. 

Nesty  generally  in  bunches  of  Usnea  "  moss."  Eggs.,  four  tP  iive,  white, 
with  rufous  markings,  chiefly  in  a  wreath  about  the  larger  end,  -66  x  -47. 

During  its  migrations  the  Parula  is  very  generally  distributed,  but 
when  nesting  it  selects  localities  in  which  there  is  an  abundance  of 
Spanish  or  Usnea  *'  moss." 

In  Florida  the  Parula's  notes  mark  the  beginning  of  a  new  ornitho- 
logical year,  and  its  song  is  so  associated  in  my  mind  with  the  beauties 
of  a  southern  spring  that  in  describing  it  as  a  short,  insectlike  buzz 
I  realize  how  largely  its  charm  is  borrowed  from  its  surroundings. 
When  the  cypresses  are  enveloped  in  a  haze  of  lacelike  blossoms,  and 
the  woods  are  fragrant  with  the  delicious  odor  of  yellow  jasmine,  the 
dreamy  softness  of  the  air  is  voiced  by  the  Parula's  drowsy  song. 

650.  Dendroica  tigrina  {Gmel.).  Cape  May  Warbler.  (See 
Fig.  1.)  Ad.  6  .—Crown  black,  slightly  tipped  with  greenish ;  ear-coverts 
rufous.,  bounded  behind  by  a  large  yellow  patch  on  the  side  of  the  neck ; 
back  olive-green,  broadly  streaked  with  black;  rump  yellow  or  greenish 
yellow  ;  a  large  white  patch  on  the  wing -coverts ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  a 
large  white  patch  on  their  inner  webs,  near  the  tip  ;  under  parts  yellow,  heavily 
streaked  with  black;  lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  whitish.  Ad.  9. — 
Upper  parts  grayish  olive-green ;  rump  yellowish  ;  a  yellow  line  over  the  eye ; 
middle  wing-coverts  with  narrow  white  tips  ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  a  white 
patch  on  their  inner  webs  near  the  tip ;  under  parts  yellow,  streaked  with 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  353 

black;  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  whiter.  Im.  3. — Kesembles  the  9  ,  but 
the  wing-coverts  have  more  white.  Im.  9  . — Similar  to  ad.  $  ,  but  with  little 
or  no  yellow  on  the  under  parts.    L.,  5-00 ;  W.,  2-61 ;  T.,  1-88 ;  B.  from  N.,  -30. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  New  England 
north  to  Hudson  Bay ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  sometimes  very  common,  usually  uncommon  T.  V".,  May  5  to 
20 ;  Aug.  25  to  Oct.  7.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.,  Aug.  20  to  Oct.  1. 
Cambridge,  rare  T.  V.,  May  15  to  25 ;  Aug.  25  to  Sept.  15. 

Nest.^  partially  pensile,  of  twigs  and  grass  fastened  with  spiders'  webbing,, 
lined  with  horsehair,  on  a  low  branch  of  a  small  tree  in  pasture  or  open 
woodland.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  dull  white  or  butfy,  slightly  specked,  and 
wreathed  around  the  larger  end  with  spots  of  brown  and  lilac,  -70  x  -50 
(Chamberlain). 

During  its  migratioiis  this  generally  rare  Warbler  may  be  found 
associated  with  its  wood-inhabiting  congeners.  In  the  summer  it 
haunts  the  higher  branches  of  coniferous  trees.  Mr.  Chamberlain 
describes  its  song  as  somewhat  resembling  "  the  simple  lay  of  the 
Nashville,  though  its  voice  is  neither  so  full  nor  so  sweet,  recalling  the 
thin,  wiry  tones  of  the  Black  and  White  Creeper." 

652.  Dendroica  sestiva  {Gmel.).     Yellow  Warbler.     Ad.  $  .— 

Upper  parts  bright  greenish  yellow,  brighter  on  the  crown ;  wings  edged  with 
yellow  ;  tail  fuscous,  the  inner  vanes  of  the  feathers  yellow  ;  under  parts  bright 
yellow,  streaked  with  rufous.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts  uniform  yellowish  olive- 
green  ;  tail  as  in  the  3  ;  wings  fuscous,  edged  with  yellow  ;  under  parts  bright 
yellow,  slightly,  if  at  all,  streaked  with  rufous  on  the  breast  and  sides.  Im.  5  . 
— Similar  to  the  9  .  Im.  9  . — Upper  parts  light  olive-green ;  tail  fuscous,  the 
inner  margins  of  the  inner  vanes  of  the  tail-feathers  yellow  ;  under  parts  uni- 
form dusky  yellowish.     L.,  5-10  ;  W.,  2-40 ;  T.,  1-89  ;  B.  from  N.,  -33. 

Remarks. — In  any  plumage  this  bird  may  be  known  by  the  yellow  on  the 
inner  vanes  of  the  tail-feathers. 

Range. — North  America,  except  Southwestern  States ;  breeds  northward 
to  the  arctic  regions ;  winters  as  far  south  as  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  K.,  abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  18  to  Sept.  30.  Sing 
Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  30  to  Sept.  27.  Cambridge,  abundant  S.  K.,  May  1 
to  Sept  30. 

Nest^  of  fine  grasses  and  hempen  fibers,  with  a  conspicuous  amount  of  plant 
down,  lined  with  plant  down,  fine  grasses,  and  sometimes  long  hairs,  in  the 
shrubs  or  trees  of  lawns  or  orchards.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  bluish  white,  thickly 
marked  with  cinnamon-  and  olive-brown,  with  frequently  a  wreath  about  the 
larger  end,  '70  x  -50. 

When  any  one  tells  me  he  has  seen  a  "  Wild  Canary,"  I  feel  rea- 
sonably sure  he  refers  to  the  Yellow  Warbler,  for  the  casual  observer 
at  once  betrays  his  inexperience  by  entirely  overlooking  the  bird's 
streaked  breast  and  slender  bill. 

It  has,  it  is  true,  the  general  appearance  of  a  yellow  bird,  and  its 
24 


35i 


WOOD   WARBLERS. 


bright  colors  and  preference  for  gardens,  orchards,  the  shrubbery  of 
our  lawns  or  bushy  brooksides,  instead  of  the  woods,  frequently  brings 
it  to  the  attention  of  those  to  whom  most  birds  are  strangers. 

It  is  an  active  bird,  and  its  song — wee-chee,  chee,  chee,  cher-wee — 
though  simple,  has  a  pleasing,  happy  ring. 

654.   Dendroica;  ccerulescens  {Gmel.).     Black-theoated  Blue 

Warbler.  Ad.  S  .—Upper  parts  grayish  blue,  back  somethnes  blackish ; 
wings  and  tail  edged  with  blue  ;  base  of  the  primaries  lohite,  forming  a  white 
spot  on  the  wing  at  the  end  of  the  primary  coverts ;  inner  vanes  of  outer  tail- 


FiG.  101.— Black-throated  Blue  Warbler.    (Reduced.) 


feathers  with  a  white  patch  near  their  tips ;  sides  of  the  head  and  throat  black ; 
sides  mixed  black  and  white ;  breast  and  belly  white.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  parts 
uniform  olive-green  ;  tail  generally  with  a  faint  bluish  tinge,  the  white  patch 
on  th6  outer  feathers  scarcely  distinguishable ;  white  at  the  base  of  the  prima- 
ries much  reduced  and  sometimes  concealed  by  the  primary  coverts ;  ear-cov- 
erts dusky  gray  ;  under  parts  soiled  butity  yellowish.  Im.  $  . — Similar  to  ad. 
$  ,  but  the  upper  parts  washed  with  greenish,  the  throat  tipped  with  white, 
and  less  black  on  the  sides.  Im.  9  . — Similar  to  ad.  9  ,  but  somewhat  yellower. 
L.,  5-28;  W.,  2-52;  T.,  2-06 ;  B.  from  N.,  -29. 

Remarlcs. — The  white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  primaries  is  the  distinguish- 
ing mark  of  this  speciea 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Minnesota  (prob- 


WOOD  WARBLERS.  355 

ably)  and  Connecticut  (rarely)  northward  to  Labrador,  and  scuth  along  the 
crest  of  the  Alleghanies  to  Georgia;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  very  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  25  to  May  25 ;  Aug.  27  to  Oct.  18. 
Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  25  to  May  28 ;  Aug.  26  to  Oct.  10.  Cambridge, 
rather  common  T.  V.,  May  10  to  25 ;  Sept.  20  to  Oct.  10. 

N'est^  of  strips  of  bark,  fine  grasses,  and  pine  needles,  lined  with  hairlike 
black  rootlets,  in  the  heavier  undergrowth  of  dense  woods,  usually  within 
two  feet  of  the  ground.  Eggs,  three  to  five,  grayish  white,  with  distinct  and 
obscure  olive-brown  markings,  chiefly  about  the  larger  ends,  -68  x  -50. 

The  male  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  can  be  identified  at  sight, 
but  his  obscurely  colored  mate  has  been  the  cause  of  many  a  field 
student's  neckache.  When  flitting  about  with  other  Warblers  it  is 
difficult  to  observe  any  positive  character  by  which  to  distinguish  her ; 
but  the  white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  primaries  is  an  unmistakable 
mark,  if  one  can  see  it  clearly. 

When  nesting,  the  birds  seem  to  require  woods  with  rather  heavy 
undergrowth.  Their  call-note  is  a  sharp,  recognizable  chip.  The 
song  of  the  male  is  generally  written  zwee-zwee-zwee,  but  both  call- 
notes  and  song  are  subject  to  variation. 

655.  Dendroicai  coronatai  (Linn.).  Myrtle  Warbler;  Yellow- 
bumped  Warbler.  (Fig.  98.)  Ad.  $  .—A  yellow  patch  on  the  crown,  rump, 
and  eithbr  side  of  the  breast ;  upper  parts  bluish  gray,  streaked  with  black ; 
two  white  wing-bars;  outer  tail-feathers  with  white  spots  on  their  inner 
vanes  near  the  tip;  throat  white;  breast  and  upper  belly  heavily  marked 
with  black  ;  lower  belly  white.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  with  less  black  below  ; 
breast  simply  streaked  with  black ;  upper  parts  browner.  Im.  and  ads.  in 
winter. — Yellow  crown  patch  more  or  less  concealed  by  brownish  tips  to  the 
feathers ;  rump  bright  yellow ;  yellow  on  the  sides  of  the  breast  much  re- 
duced ;  upper  parts  grayish  brown,  streaked  with  black  ;  wing-bars  grayish ; 
tail  with  white  patches;  under  parts  soiled  white,  streaked  with  black.  L., 
5-65;  W.,  2-85;  T.,  2-25;  B.  from  K,  -29. 

Remarks. — The  yellow  patches  on  the  crown,  rump,  and  sides  of  the  breast 
are  characteristic  of  this  species. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Minnesota  and 
northern  New  England  northward ;  winters  from  the  Middle  States  south- 
ward. 

Washington,  abundant  W.  V.,  Sept.  28  to  May  20.  Sing  Sing,  common 
T.  v.,  Apl.  13  to  May  28 ;  Aug.  16  to  Nov.  11 ;  a  few  winter.  Cambridge, 
abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  18  to  May  20 ;  Sept.  20  to  Nov.  3 ;  a  few  winter. 

Nest,  of  vegetable  fibers  lined  with  grasses,  in  coniferous  trees  five  to  ten 
feet  up.  Eggs,  four  or  five,  white  or  grayish  white,  distinctly  and  obscurely 
spotted  and  speckled  or  blotched  with  olive-brown  or  rufous-brown,  1*70  x  -52. 

These  strong,  hardy  Warblers  leave  their  cousins  of  the  woods 
and  in  loose  companies  forage  in  old  fields  and  scrubby  growths 
among  the  bayberry  or  myrtle  {Myrica  cerifera)  bushes,  which  bear 


356  WOOD  WARBLERS. 

their  favorite  food.  So  fond  are  they  of  these  berries  that  their  move- 
ments are  largely  governed  by  the  success  or  failure  of  the  bayberry 
crop.  Near  my  home  at  Englewood,  N.  J.,  Myrtle  Warblers  are  alv/ays 
common  during  the  winter  if  there  is  an  abundance  of  bayberries  and 
always  absent  when  the  berries  are  wanting. 

No  Warbler  is  more  easily  identified  than  this  bird  with  its  four 
distinct  patches  of  yellow.  The  yellow  rump  is  conspicuous  in  life, 
and,  in  connection  with  the  bird's  characteristic  tchip,  forms  an  excel  • 
lent  field- mark. 

Audubon's  Warbler  {656.  Dendroica  auduboni)^  a  species  of  the  Western 
States,  has  been  once  recorded  from  Massachusetts  and  Pennsylvania. 

657.  Dendroica  maculosa  (^i^me^.)-    Magkolia  Warbler  ;  Black 

AND  Yellow  Warbler.  (Fig.  99.)  Ad.  6  . — Crown  bluish  gray,  cheeks  and 
forehead  black,  a  white  line  behind  the  eye ;  back  black,  bordered  with  olive- 
green,  a  large  white  patch  on  the  wing-coverts ;  rump  yellow,  tail  black,  in- 
ner vanes  of  all  but  the  central  feathers  with  white  patches  on  their  middle.^ 
the  end  third  of  the  feather  being  entirely  black ;  throat  yellow,  breast  and 
sides  heavily  streaked  with  black.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  with  the  colors 
duller  and  less  sharply  defined ;  back  greener.  7m.— Top  and  sides  of  the 
head  ashy  ;  back  olive-green,  with  nearly  concealed  black  spots  ;  two  narrow 
wing-bars ;  rump  yellow ;  tail  as  in  the  adults  ;  under  parts  yellow ;  whiter 
on  the  belly ;  sides  with  a  few  black  streaks.  .L.,  5-12 ;  W.,  2-30 ;  T.,  2-00  ;  B. 
from  N.,  -30. 

Bemarhs. — In  any  plumage  this  bird  may  he  known  by  the  white  patches 
on  the  tail  being  near  the  middle  instead  of  at  the  tip  of  the  feathers. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Michigan  and 
northern  New  England  to  Hudson  Bay  and  southward  along  the  crests  of  the 
Alleghanies  to  Pennsylvania ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  28  to  May  30 ;  Aug.  15  to  Oct.  10.  Sing 
Sing,  common  T.  V.,  May  9  to  28;  Aug.  13  to  Oct.  11.  Cambridge,  common 
T.  v.,  May  12  to  25 ;  Sept.  20  to  Oct.  5. 

Nest.,  of  fine  twigs,  leaf  stems,  etc.,  lined  with  hairlike  rootlets,  in  conif- 
erous trees,  usually  three  to  six  feet  up.  Eggs.,  three  to  five,  white,  marked 
with  cinnamon-  and  olive-brown,  chiefiy  in  a  wreath  about  the  larger  end, 
•6G  X  -48. 

Adult  Magnolia  Warblers  are  so  distinctly  marked  that  ordinarily 
they  may  be  identified  at  sight.  Immature  birds  are  less  strikingly 
colored,  but  in  any  plumage  the  species  may  be  known  by  having  the 
white  tail-spots  nearer  the  middle  than  the  ends  of  the  feathers.  Seen 
from  below,  the  birds  thus  appear  to  have  a  white  tail  broadly  banded 
with  black. 

The  Magnolia's  summer  home  is  among  the  spruces  and  hemlocks. 
Its  song,  which  is  of  somewhat  the  same  character  as  that  of  the  Yel- 
low Warbler,  is  described  by  Mr.  Langille  as  "  a  loud,  clear  whistle, 


WOOD    WARBLERS.  357 

which   may  be  imitated   by  the  syllables  chee-to,  chee-to,  chee-tee-ee^ 
uttered  rapidly  and  ending  in  the  falling  inflection. 

658.  Dendroica  caBmUea  (  Wils.).  Cerulean  Warbler.  Ad.  S . 
— Upper  parts  bright  blue,  the  sides  of  head  and  back  streaked  with  black; 
wings  and  tail  edged  with  blue  ;  two  white  wing- bars ;  inner  vanes  of  all  but 
the  central  tail-feathers  with  white  patches  at  their  tips ;  under  parts  white, 
a  bluish  black  band  across  the  breast;  sides  streaked  with  bluish  black. 
Ad.  9. —  Upper  parts  bluish  olive- green ;  wings  and  tail  as  in  the  3;  under 
parts  white,  generally  more  or  less  tinged  with  pale  yellow.  Im. — Similar  to 
ad.  9  ,  but  yellower.    L.,  4-50 ;  W.,  2-65 ;  B.  from  N.,  -31. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  as  far  north  as  Minnesota,  and 
eastward  as  far  as  Lockport,  N.  Y.  (Davison) ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  very  rare  T.  V.,  two  instances,  May. 

l^est.^  of  line  grasses  bound  with  spiders'  silk,  lined  with  strips  of  bark 
and  fine  grasses  and  with  a  few  lichens  attached  to  its  outer  surface,  in  a  tree, 
twenty -five  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four,  creamy  white,  thickly 
covered  with  rather  heavy  blotches  of  reddish  brown,  -60  x  47  (Allen,  Bull. 
Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  iv,  1879,  p.  26). 

In  writing  of  this  species  as  observed  by  him  in  Ritchie  County, 
West  Virginia,  Mr.  Brewster  says : 

"  Decidedly  the  most  abundant  of  the  genus  here.  The  first  speci- 
men taken  May  5.  They  inhabit  exclusively  the  tops  of  the  highest 
forest  trees,  in  this  respect  showing  an  affinity  with  D.  hlackburnicB. 
In  actions  they  most  resemble  D.  pensylvanica,  carrying  the  tail 
rather  high  and  having  the  same  'smart  bantamlike  appearance,' 
Were  it  not  for  these  prominent  characteristics  they  would  be  very 
difficult  to  distinguish  in  the  tree  tops  from  Panda  [=  Compsothlypis] 
americana,  the  songs  are  so  precisely  alike.  That  of  the  latter  bird 
has,  however,  at  least  two  regular  variations :  in  one,  beginning  low 
down,  he  rolls  his  guttural  little  trill  quickly  and  evenly  up  the  scale, 
ending  apparently  only  when  he  can  get  no  higher :  in  the  other  the 
commencement  of  this  trill  is  broken  or  divided  into  syllables,  like  zee, 
zee,  zee,  ze-ee-ee-eep.  This  latter  variation  is  the  one  used  by  D.  ccerulea, 
and  I  could  detect  little  or  no  difference  in  the  songs  of  dozens  of  in- 
dividuals. At  best  it  is  a  modest  little  strain  and  far  from  deserving 
the  encomium  bestowed  upon  it  by  Audubon,  who  describes  it  as  '  ex- 
tremely sweet  and  mellow ' ;  decidedly  it  is  neither  of  these,  and  he 
must  have  confounded  with  it  some  other  species.  In  addition  to  the 
song  they  utter  the  almost  universal  Dendroicine  lisp  and  also  the 
characteristic  tchep  of  D.  coronata,  which  I  had  previously  supposed 
entirely  peculiar  to  that  bird." 

659.  Dendroica  pensylvanica  [Linn.).  Chestnut-sided  War- 
bler. (Fig.  100.)  Ad.  $  .—Crown  bright  yellow,  a  black  line  behind  the 
eye ;  front  part  of  the  cheeks  black ;  ear-coverts  white ;  back  streaked  with 


358  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

black  and  margined  with  bright  olive-green;  wing-bars  yellowish  white; 
tail  black,  the  outer  feathers  with  white  patches  on  their  inner  vanes  at  the 
tip ;  under  parts  white,  the  sides  chestnut.  Ad.  $  . — Similar,  but  somewhat 
duller  in  color.  Im. — Very  ditierent;  upper  parts  bright  yellowish  olive- 
green,  back  sometimes  streaked  with  black  ;  wing-bars  yellowish  white ; 
under  parts  pure,  silky  white,  the  sides  sometimes  with  spots  or  patches  of 
chestnut.    L.,  5-14 ;  W.,  2-45 ;  T.,  2-00 ;  B.  from  N.,  -29. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  central  Illinois  and  north- 
ern New  Jersey  north  to  Manitoba  and  Newfoundland,  and  southward  along 
the  Alleghanies  to  South  Carolina ;  winters  in  the  tropics, 

Washington,  abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  28  to  May  30;  Aug.  10  to  Sept.  30. 
Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  S.  R.,  May  2  to  Sept.  24.  Cambridge,  common 
S.  R.,  May  5  to  Sept.  10. 

Nest^  of  strips  of  bark,  leaf  stems,  etc.,  lined  with  tendrils  and  rootlets,  in 
bushes,  about  three  feet  up.  £ggs^  four  to  live,  white,  with  numerous  distinct 
and  obscure  cinnamon-  and  olive-brown  markings,  chiefly  in  a  wreath  about 
the  larger  end,  -69  x  -50. 

When  settled  for  the  summer,  Chestnut-sided  Warblers  may  be 
found  in  second  growths,  scrubby  clearings,  or  the  bushy  borders  of 
woodlands.  There  is  a  suggestion  in  their  movements  of  the  restless 
activity  of  the  Redstart,  as  with  drooped  wings  and  slightly  raised 
tail  they  flit  among  the  lower  growth.  They  have  two  songs,  both  of 
which  closely  resemble  that  of  the  Yellow  Warbler,  though  a  practiced 
ear  can  at  once  recognize  the  song  of  either. 

Adults  of  this  species  are  too  conspicuously  marked  to  be  mistaken 
for  any  other  Warbler,  but  in  the  fall  have  a  care  in  identifying  the 
very  differently  colored  young. 

660.  Dendroica  castanea  {Wils.).  Bay -breasted  Warbler. 
Ad.  $  .—Forehead  and  cheeks  black,  a  cream-buff  patch  on  the  sides  of  the 
neck  ;  cr^own  cTiestmit ;  tJiroat.,  upper  Ireast.^  and  sides  chestnut- rufous  ;  back 
brownish  ashy,  streaked  with  black ;  two  white  wing-bars ;  inner  vanes  of 
outer  tail-feathers  with  white  patches  at  their  tips;  lower  breast  and  belly 
buffy  white.  Ad.  9  .—Crown  olive-green,  streaked  with  black  and  with  gen- 
erally some  chestnut;  rest  of  upper  parts  as  in  the  $  ;  under  parts  buffy  white; 
breast  and  sides  more  or  less  stained  with  rufous,  /m.— Upper  parts  bright 
olive-green,  indistinctly  streaked  with  black  ;  wings  and  tail  much  as  in  the 
ads. ;  under  parts  white,  tinged  with  cream-buff,  especially  on  the  flanks. 
L.,  5-63;  W.,  2-95;  T.,  2-12;  B.  from  N.,  -30. 

Eange.—EQ.&\.Qrn  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Michigan  and 
northern  New  England  northward  to  Hudson  Bay  and  Labrador ;  winters  in 
Central  America. 

Washington,  sometimes  abundant,  usually  uncommon  T.  V.,  May  10  to 
20 ;  Aug.  28  to  Oct.  20.  Sing  Singr,  tolerably  common  T.  V.,  May  14  to  28 ; 
Aug.  5  to  Sept.  26.    Cambridge,  rather  rare  T.  V.,  May  15  to  25 ;  Sept.  12  to  28. 

Nest,  of  grasses  and  plant  fibers,  lined  with  plant  down  and  long  hairs, 
in  coniferous  trees,  five  to  twenty  feet  up.     Eggs,  four  to  five,  white,  finely 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  359 

marked,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  distinctly  and  obscurely  with  cinnamon-, 
olive-,  or  rufous-brown,  -72  x  -52. 

During  its  migrations  this  tastefully  marked  Warbler  is  generally 
uncommon  enough  to  be  considered  somewhat  of  a  prize,  though  at 
irregular  intervals  it  becomes  comparatively  common.  It  is  said  to 
be  much  rarer  in  fall  than  in  spring,  but  the  immature  Bay-breasts  so 
closely  resemble  the  usually  abundant  young  Black-polls  that  it  is 
sometimes  difficult  to  determine  specimens,  while  living  birds  could 
not  possibly  be  distinguished. 

In  the  summer  the  Bay-breasts  inhabit  the  northern  coniferous  for- 
ests, living,  it  is  said,  in  the  tree  tops.  Mr.  Langille  writes :  "  Their 
song,  said  to  begin  like  that  of  the  Black-poll  and  end  like  that  of  the 
Redstart,  bears  to  my  ear  no  resemblance  whatever  to  either,  but  is  a 
very  soft  warble,  somewhat  resembling  the  syllables  tse-chee,  tse-chee, 
tse-chee,  tse-chee,  tse-chee,  but  far  too  liquid  to  admit  of  exact  spelling." 

661.  Dendroica  striata  (Forst.).  Black-poll  Warbler.  (Fig. 
102.)  Ad.  S  . — Crown  black ;  ear-coverts  white ;  nape  streaked,  black  and 
white ;  back  and  rump  ashy,  streaked  with  black ;  two  white  wing-bars ; 
inner  vanes  of  outer  tail-feathers  with  white  patches  at  their  tips;  under 
parts  white,  streaked  with  black,  the  streaks  most  numerous  on  the  sides, 
and  wanting  on  the  middle  of  the  breast  and  belly.  Ad.  9 . — Upper  parts 
olive-green,  distinctly  streaked  with  black  ;  wings  and  tail  as  in  the  6  ;  under 
parts  white,  tinged  with  yellow,  the  breast  and  sides  distinctly  streaked  with 
black.  Im. — Similar  to  9  ,  but  the  upper  parts  brighter  and  not  distinctly 
streaked,  the  under  parts  yellower  and  not  distinctly  streaked.  L.,  5-56  ;  W., 
2-92 ;  T.,  2-05 ;  B.  from  N.,  -30. 

Remarks. — No  two  of  our  Warblers  more  closely  resemble  each  other  than 
do  immature  examples  of  this  and  the  preceding  species.  There  is  no  difl'er- 
ence  in  the  color  of  the  upper  parts,  but  castanea  has  the  under  parts  tinged 
with  delicate  cream-buflF,  strongest  on  the  flanks,  while  striata  is  distinctly 
yellowish  below. 

Bange. — "  Eastern  North  America  to  the  Kocky  Mountains,  north  to  Green- 
land, the  Barren  Grounds,  and  Alaska,  breeding  from  northern  New  England 
northward;  south  in  winter  to  northern  South  America"  (A.  O.  U.). 

Washington,  abundant  T.  V.,  May  1  to  June  5 ;  Sept.  5  to  Oct.  20.  Sing 
Sing,  common  T.  V.,  May  7  to  June  6 ;  Aug.  30  to  Oct.  16.  Cambridge,  abun- 
dant T.  v..  May  12  to  June  5;  Sept.  8  to  Oct.  15. 

Mst.,  of  twigs,  moss,  rootlets,  etc.,  lined  with  flne  grasses  and  tendrils,  gen- 
erally in  spruce  trees,  about  six  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  Ave,  white,  more  0/ 
less  speckled  and  spotted,  and  generally  heavily  blotched  at  the  larger  end 
with  cinnamon-,  olive-,  or  rufous-brown,  -70  x  -54 . 

Black-polls  are  rather  more  leisurely  in  their  movements  than  most 
of  their  congeners.  Adults  should  be  identified  without  difficulty,  but 
the  immature  birds,  which  are  generally  abundant  in  the  fall,  may  oc- 
casion some  trouble.     Mr.  Langille  describes  their  song  as  one  of  the 


360 


WOOD   WARBLERS. 


most  slender  and  wiry  in  all  our  forests,  and  as  distinguishable  as  the 
hum  of  the  cicada  or  the  shrilling  of  the  katydid.  "  Tree-tree-tree-tree- 
tree-tree-tree-tree,  rapidly  uttered,  the  monotonous  notes  of  equal  length, 
beginning  very  softly,  gradually  increasing  to  the  middle  of  the  strain, 
and  then  as  gradually  diminishing,  thus  forming  a  fine  musical  swell, 
may  convey  a  fair  idea  of  the  song.  There  is  a  peculiar  soft  and 
tinkling  sweetness  in  this  melody,  suggestive  of  the  quiet  mysteries  ot 
the  forest,  and  sedative  as  an  anodyne  to  the  nerves." 

662.  Dendroica  blackbumiae  (Gmel).  Blackburnian  War- 
bler. Ad.  $  .—Center  of  the  black  crown,  a  line  over  the  eye,  patch  behind 
the  black  ear-coverts,  throat,  and  breast  beautiful  rich  orange  ;  back  black, 
streaked  with  whitish ;  wing-coverts  white,  forming  a  large  white  patch  on 
th9  wing ;  inner  vane  of  most  of  the  tail-feathers  almost  entirely  white,  ex- 
cept at  the  tip ;  the  outer  vane  of  the  outer  feather  white  at  the  base ;  belly 
tinged  with  orange,  sides  streaked  with  black.  Ad.  ?  .—Resembles  the  5  , 
but  the  orange  markings  are  duller,  the  upper  parts  are  ashy  olive-green 
streaked  with  black  and  whitish  ;  the  white  on  the  wings  an  J  tail  is  less  ex- 
tensive. Iin.  $  .— Eesembles  the  9  ,  but  has  the  orange  markings  dull  yellow, 
the  crown-patch  nearly  absent.  Bn.  9  .—Similar  to  the  im.  6  ,  but  the  yel- 
low markings  much  paler,  nearly  butty,  the  back  browner.  L.,  5-25;  W,, 
2-71 ;  T.,  1-96  ;  B.  from  N.,  -31. 

Eemarlcs. — In  connection  with  other  markings  the  large  amount  of  white 
in  the  tail,  appearing  on  even  the  outer  vane  of  the  outer  feather,  is  charac- 
teristic of  this  species. 

Bange. — Eastern  North  America:  breeds  from  northern  Minnesota  and 
southern  Maine  northward  to  Labrador  and  southward  along  the  Alleghanies 
to  South  Carolina ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  May  5  to  20 ;  Aug.  20  to  Oct.  5.  Sing  Sing, 
common  T.  V.,  May  10  to  29 ;  Aug.  15  to  Oct.  15.  Cambridge,  uncommon 
T.  v.,  May  12  to  22 ;  Sept.  15  to  30. 

Nest^  of  fine  twigs  and  grasses,  lined  with  grasses  and  tendrils,  in  conifer- 
ous trees,  ten  to  forty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four,  grayish  white  or  bluish  white,  dis- 
tinctly and  obscurely  spotted,  speckled,  and  blotched  with  cinnamon-brown 
or  olive-brown,  "68  x  -50. 

The  Blackburnian  is  uncommon  enough  to  make  us  appreciate  his 
unusual  beauty.  Coming  in  May,  before  the  woods  are  fully  clad,  he 
seems  like  some  bright-plumaged  tropical  bird  who  has  lost  his  way 
and  wandered  to  northern  climes.  The  summer  is  passed  among  the 
higher  branches  in  coniferous  forests,  and  in  the  early  fall  the  bird 
returns  to  surroundings  which  seem  more  in  keeping  with  its  attire. 

Mr.  Minot  describes  its  summer  song  as  resembling  the  syllables 
wee- see-wee-see-wee-see  (wee-see-ick),  while  in  the  spring  its  notes  may 
be  likened  to  wee-see-wee-see,  tsee-tsee,  fsee,  tsee,  tsee-tsee,  fsee,  tsee, 
the  latter  syllables  being  on  ascending  scale,  the  very  last  shrill  and 
fine, 


WOOD  WARBLERS.  361 

663*  Dendroica  dominica>  {Linn.).  Yellow-throated  Wabbler. 
Ad. — A  yellow  line  in  front  of  the  eye  and  a  white  line  over  it ;  upper  parts 
gray,  forehead  blackish  ;  wings  and  tail  edged  with  grayish,  two  white  wing- 
bars  ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  white  patches  near  their  tips  ;  cheeks  and  sides 
of  the  throat  black ;  a  white  patch  on  the  side  of  the  neck  ;  throat  and  breast 
yellow,  belly  white,  sides  streaked  with  black.  L.,  5-25 ;  W.,  2-60  ;  T.,  2-01  ; 
B.,  -49. 

Range. — Southern  United  States;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Virginia;  winters 
from  Florida  south v/ard ;  accidental  in  New  York  and  Massachusetts. 

Washington,  rare  S.  E.,  rather  common  in  late  July  ;  may  breed. 

Nest.,  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  and  Tillandsia  "  moss,"  lined  with  vege- 
table down,  thirty  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground,  in  pines  or  live-oaks,  some- 
times in  a  bunch  of  Tillandsia  "  moss."  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white  or  grayish 
white,  with  numerous  distinct  and  obscure  cinnamon-  or  olive-brown  mark- 
ings, sometimes  evenly  distributed,  sometimes  in  a  wreath  at  the  larger  end, 
•74  X  -52. 

Some  birds  are  so  characteristic  of  certain  places  that  wherever 
heard  or  seen  they  recall  their  accustomed  haunts.  I  have  only  to  re- 
member the  song  of  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler  to  give  form  to  a 
mental  picture  of  some  tree-bordered  stream  or  bayou  in  the  south.  Tli  e 
song  bears  some  resemblance  to  that  of  the  Indigo  Bunting,  but  has  a 
wilder,  more  ringing  quality.  It  is  to  some  extent  ventriloquial,  and 
this  in  connection  with  the  rather  deliberate  movements  of  the  birds, 
and  the  fact  that  they  resort  to  the  upper  branches,  makes  it  some- 
times difficult  to  locate  the  singer. 

663a;.  D.  d.  2i!0ml0V2k,  Rldgw.  Sycamore  Warbler.— Similar  to  the 
preceding,  but  with  a  smaller  bill  and  the  line  in  front  of  the  eye  white  in- 
stead of  yellow.     W.,  2-60 ;  T.,  2-00  ;  B.,  -45. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  north  to  Kansas,  southern  In 
diana,  and  southern  Illinois  ;  east  to  western  South  Carolina;  migrates  south 
ward,  chiefly  along  the  west  Gulf  coast,  to  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

"  The  Sycamore  Warbler  is  a  common  summer  resident  in  thf  bot- 
tom-lands [of  Illinois],  where,  according  to  the  writer's  experience,  it 
lives  chiefly  in  the  large  sycamore  trees  along  or  near  the  water  courses. 
On  this  account  it  is  a  difficult  bird  to  obtain  during  the  breeding 
season,  the  male  usually  keeping  in  the  topmost  branches  of  the  tallest 
trees,  out  of  gunshot  and  often,  practically,  out  of  sight,  although  its 
presence  is  betrayed  by  its  loud,  very  un warblerlike  song  "  (Ridgway). 

667*  Dendroica  virens  (Gmel.).     Black-throated  Green  War- 

ULER.  Ad.  6  ■ — Upper  parts  bright  olive-green,  back  sometimes  spotted  with 
black ;  line  over  the  eye  and  cheeks  bright  yellow,  ear-coverts  dusky ;  two 
white  wing-bars ;  inner  vanes  of  outer  tail-feathers  entirely  white,  outer  web 
white  at  the  base ;  throat  and  breast  black  ;  belly  wliite,  sometimes  tinged 
with  yellow ;  sides  streaked  with  black.    Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  the  black  of 


362  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

throat  and  breast  more  or  less  mixed  with  yellowish.  Im. — Similar  to  the 
9  ,  but  with  more  yellow  on  the  throat,  the  black  sometimes  being  almost 
entirely  hidden  or  wanting.    L.,  5-10  ;  W.,  2-46  ;  T.,  1-99  ;  B.  from  N.,  -25. 

Remarks. — The  bright  yellow  cheeks  of  this  species,  in  connection  with 
the  large  amount  of  white  in  the  tail,  will  serve  to  distinguish  it  in  any 
plumage. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Illinois  and  Con- 
necticut northward  to  Hudson  Bay  and  southward  along  the  AUeghanies  to 
South  Carolina ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  very  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  25  to  May  28  ;  Aug.  28  to  Oct.  21. 
Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  30  to  June  3  ;  Sept.  1  to  Oct.  26 ;  a  few  breed. 
Cambridge,  very  common  S.  E.,  May  1  to  Oct.  15. 

Nest.,  of  small  twigs  and  moss,  lined  with  rootlets,  fine  grasses,  and  ten- 
drils, in  coniferous  trees,  fifteen  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four, 
white,  distinctly  and  obscurely  spotted  and  speckled  with  olive-brown  or 
umber,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  -65  x  -46. 

When  migrating  this  species  joins  the  ranks  of  the  Warbler  army 
and  visits  wooded  land  of  almost  any  kind.  When  nesting  it  prefers 
coniferous  forests,  where  it  is  a  dweller  among  the  tree  tops. 

While  resembling  its  congeners  in  general  habits,  the  song  of  the 
Black-throated  Green  is  so  unlike  their  generally  humble  ditties  that 
the  bird  seems  possessed  of  more  character  than  they  impress  us  with 
having.     Mr.  Burroughs  graphically  represents  its  notes  by  straight 

lines : V  ;  a  novel  method  of  musical  annotation,  but 

which  nevertheless  will  aid  one  in  recognizing  the  bird's  song.  There 
is  a  quality  about  it  like  the  droning  of  bees ;  it  seems  to  voice  the 
restfulness  of  a  midsummer  day. 

Townsend's  Wakblek  {668.  Dendroica  townsendi).,  a  species  of  western 
North  America,  has  been  once  recorded  from  Pennsylvania. 

670.  Dendroica  Isirtlandi  Baird.  Kirtland's  Warbler.  Ad. — 
Head  bluish  gray,  sometimes  spotted  with  black  ;  lores  and  sides  of  the  throat 
black  ;  back  brownish  ashy,  spotted  with  black;  no  white  wing-bars;  outer 
tail-feathers  with  white  patches  on  their  inner  webs  at  the  tips ;  under  parts 
pale  yellow ;  sides  streaked  and  spotted  with  black.  L.,  5-75  ;  W.,  2-75  ;  T., 
2-30  ;  B.  from  N.,  -32. 

Range.— ^sligroXa^  through  southeastern  United  States  and  Mississippi 
Valley  (South  Carolina,  Virginia,  Missouri,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Illi- 
nois, Minnesota)  ;  summer  home  unknown;  winters  in  the  Bahamas. 

Washington,  casual  T.  V.,  one  record,  Sept.  25, 1887. 

The  dozen  or  more  specimens  of  this  rare  Warbler  which  have  been 
taken  in  the  United  States  were  captured  in  late  April  and  May  and 
late  September  and  October.  Six  specimens  have  been  recorded  from 
Michigan,  all  taken  in  May,  and  it  is  possible  these  birds  were  en  route 
to  a  nesting  ground  in  the  fludson  Bay  region.  It  is  not  uncommon 
tn  winter  in  the  Bahamas. 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  363 

671.  Dendroica  vigorsii  (^wc^.).  Pine  Warbleb.  (See  Fig.  53, 6). 
jld^  ^. —  Upper  parts  bright  olive-green,  sometimes  washed  with  ashy;  two 
whitish  wing-bars  ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  white  patches  on  their  inner 
vanes  near  the  tip ;  under  parts  bright  yellow,  more  or  less  washed  with  ashy, 
turning  to  white  on  the  lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts ;  sides  sometimes 
with  a  few  black  streaks.  Ad.  $  . — Similar,  but  upper  parts  brownish  olive- 
green  ;  under  parts  soiled  whitish  ;  breast  tinged  with  yellow.  L.,  5-52 ;  \V., 
2-81  ;  T.,  2-25 ;  B.  from  N.,  -33. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Hayti  (?),  the  Bahamas, 
and  Florida  north  to  Manitoba  and  Maine  ;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  and 
North  Carolina  southward. 

Washington,  quite  uncommon  S.  E.,  Mch.  25  to  Oct.  25 ;  abundant  in  fall. 
Sing  Sing,  casual.     Cambridge,  common  S.  K.,  Apl.   10  to  Oct.  20. 

Nest.^  of  strips  of  bark,  leaves,  plant  fibers,  etc.,  in  pines  or  cedars,  thirty 
to  fifty  feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white  or  grayish  white,  with  numerous 
distinct  and  obscure  cinnamon-brown  to  umber  markings,  chiefiy  in  a  wreath 
or  band  at  the  larger  end,  -70  x  -52. 

True  to  its  name,  the  Pine  Warbler  is  rarely  found  outside  of  pine 
woods.  In  the  south,  where  pineries  may  extend  over  half  a  State,  it 
is  an  abundant  and  generally  distributed  bird ;  in  the  more  northern 
part  of  its  range  it  is,  from  force  of  circumstances,  a  local  species, 
occurring  only  with  the  pines. 

In  the  winter  it  is  found  in  small  flocks,  which  may  contain  a  few 
Myrtle  or  Palm  Warblers,  and  at  this  season  it  lives  on  or  near  the 
ground.  In  the  summer  it  is  more  arboreal.  Its  habit  of  clinging  to 
the  trunk  of  a  tree,  or  hopping  along  a  limb  while  searching  for  insects 
in  crevices  in  the  bark,  has  given  it  the  misnomer  of  Pine  Creeping 
Warbler. 

Its  song  is  a  clear,  sweet  trill.  Southern  birds,  in  my  experience, 
have  more  musical  voices,  and  their  notes  suggest  those  of  the  Field 
Sparrow,  while  the  song  of  northern  birds  has  more  the  quality  of  the 
Chipping  Sparrow's. 

672.  Dendroica  palmanun  {Gmel.).  Palm  Warbler;  Eed-poll 
Warbler.  Ad. — Crown  chestnut;  back  olive  grayish  brown,  indistinctly 
streaked ;  rump  olive-green ;  no  wing-bars  ;  tail  black,  the  outer  feathers  with 
white  patches  on  their  inner  vanes  at  the  tips ;  a  yellow  line  over  the  eye ; 
throat  and  breast  bright  yellow;  belly  soiled  whitish,  tinged  with  yellow; 
sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked  with  chestnut-rufous ;  under 
tail-coverts  yellow.  Ad.  in  wirde?'  and  Irn. — Crown-cap  partly  concealed  by 
brownish  tips  to  the  feathers  and  sometimes  wanting;  line  over  the  eye  and 
eye-ring  white  ;  under  parts  soiled  whitish,  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow ; 
breast  streaked  with  dusky.      L.,  5-25  ;  W.,  2-64;  T.,  2-10  ;  B.  from  N.,  -32. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  interior  of  British  America  north  of  Manitoba  and 
west  of  Hudson  Bay  ;  migrates  southward  through  the  Mississippi  Valley  and 
winters  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  West  Indies,  and  Mexico ;  rare 
in  the  North  Atlantic  States. 


364  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  Apl.  29  to  May  18  ;  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V., 
Apl.  29;  Sept.  30  to  Oct.  12.  Cambridge,  uncommon  T.  V.,  in  fall,  Sept.  25 
to  Oct.  10. 

This  interior  race  of  the  Yellow  Palm  Warbler  is  occasionally  met 
with  in  the  North  Atlantic  States,  while  in  Florida  it  is  much  more 
common  than  the  eastern  form.  Sometimes  the  two  birds  may  be  seen 
in  the  same  flock,  when  the  brighter  colors  of  hypochrysea  are  at  once 
apparent. 

e'^Sa.  D,    p.    hypochrysea    Bidgw.      Yellow   Palm  Warbler; 

Yellow  Red-poll.  Ad. — Crown  chestnut ;  back  brownish  olive-green ; 
rump  olive-green;  no  white  wing- bars;  secondaries  sometimes  tinged  with 
chestnut ;  tail  edged  with  olive-green,  the  outer  feathers  with  white  spots  on 
their  inner  vanes  near  the  tips  ;  line  over  the  eye  and  eye-ring  yellow  ;  under 
parts  entirely  bright  yellow  ;  sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked 
with  chestnut-rufous.  Ad.  in  'winter  and  Im. — Crown-cap  partly  concealed 
by  the  brownish  tips  to  the  feathers  and  sometimes  wanting ;  line  over  the 
eye  and  eye-ring  yellowish  ;  entire  under  parts  uniform  yellow,  washed  with 
ashy  ;  the  sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked  with  chestnut- 
rufous  or  dusky.     L.,  5-43  ;  W.,  2-61 ;  T.,  2-10  ;  B.  from  I^.,  -31. 

Remarks. — In  any  plumage  this  bird  may  be  distinguished  from  the  pre- 
ceding species  by  its  uniform  yellow  under  parts. 

Range. — Eastern  JN'orth  America  ;  breeds  from  Kova  Scotia  northward  east 
of  Hudson  Bay  ;  migrates  south wai'd  through  the  Atlantic  States,  and  winters 
in  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Mch.  28  to  Apl.  29 ;  Oct.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably 
common  T.  V.,  Apl.  11  to  May  5 ;  Sept.  20  to  Nov.  8.  Cambridge,  abundant 
T.  v.,  Apl.  15  to  May  5  ;  Oct.  1  to  15. 

Nest.,  of  rather  coarse  grasses  lined  with  finer  grasses,  on  or  near  the 
ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white  or  buflfy  white,  with  some  distinct  and  ob- 
scure cinnamon-  or  olive-brown  markings,  chiefiy  at  the  larger  end,  '65  x  "51. 

The  Red-poll  is  a  renegade  Dendroica.  He  has  no  liking  for  the 
wood,  and  even  trees  in  the  open  do  not  seem  to  attract  him.  His 
tastes  bring  him  to  fields  and  roadsides,  where  he  lives  on  or  near  the 
ground,  but  is  ever  active  and  much  on  the  move.  During  the  winter 
in  the  south  he  is  a  common  bird  in  the  streets  and  gardens  of  towns, 
and  like  a  Chippy  hops  familiarly  about  piazzas. 

He  has  the  same  nervous  peculiarity  which,  irrespective  of  family, 
seems  to  affect  some  birds,  and,  as  though  life  were  a  matter  of  beat- 
ing time,  never  ceases  to  wag  his  tail.  His  fine  chip  is  recognizable 
after  one  has  become  familiar  with  it,  while  his  song  is  described  as  a 
simple  trill, 

673.  Dendroica  discolor  (  Vieill.).  Prairie  Warbler.  (Fig.  103.) 
Ad.  $. —  Upper  parts  bright  olive-green;  hach  spotted  with  chestnut-rufous ; 
wing-bars  yellowish  ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  large  white  patches  at  their  tips, 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  365 

the  outer  vane  of  the  outer  feather  white  at  the  base ;  a  yellow  line  over  the 
eye ;  lores  and  a  crescent  below  the  eye  black ;  under  parts  bright  yellow  ; 
eides  heavily  streaked  with  black.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  with  less,  and  some- 
times no  chestnut-rufous  in  the  back.  Ini. — Upper  parts  uniform  ashy  olive- 
green  ;  no  apparent  wing-bars ;  outer  tail-feathers  with  white  on  their  inner 
webs  at  the  tips  ;  ear-coverts  ashy ;  under  parts  yellow ;  sides  indistinctly 
streaked  with  blackish.    L.,  4-75  ;  W.,  2-20  ;  T.,  1-95  ;  B.  from  N.,  -28. 

Eemarks. — The  chestnut-rufous  patch  in  the  back  at  once  identifies  the 
adults;  but  the  young  are  puzzling  birds,  to  be  known  chiefly  by  their  small 
size,  absence  of  wing-bars  and  streaks  on  the  sides. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States  ;  breeds  from  Florida  to  Michigan  and 
Massachusetts  ;  winters  from  southern  Florida  southward. 

"Washington,  very  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  20  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  rare  S.  K., 
May  2  to  Sept.  14.     Cambridge,  locally  common  S.  R.,  May  8  to  Sept.  15. 

Nest.,  of  plant  fibers  and  plant  down,  lined  with  rootlets  and  long  hairs,  in 
briary  bushes.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white,  spotted  distinctly  and  obscurely  with 
cinnamon-  or  olive-brown,  or  chestnut,  chiefly  in  a  wreath  at  the  larger  end, 
•64  X  -48. 

The  Yellow,  Palm,  and  Prairie  Warblers  are  the  three  "  Wood 
Warblers  "  that  are  rarely  found  in  the  woods.  The  latter,  however, 
differs  decidedly  in  habits  from  either  of  the  former.  It  is  a  rather 
retiring  inhabitant  of  scrubby  clearings,  bushy  fields,  and  pastures,  or 
thickets  of  young  pines  and  cedars.  But  while  the  Prairie,  if  silent, 
might  readily  escape  observation,  no  one  with  an  ear  for  bird  music 
will  pass  within  sound  of  a  singing  bird  without  at  least  trying  to 
solve  the  mystery  of  its  peculiar  notes,  a  series  of  six  or  seven  quickly 
repeated  zees,  the  next  to  the  last  one  the  highest. 

674*  Seiurusaurocapillus  (Xmn.).  Oven-bikd  ;  Golden-ckowned 
Thrush.  (Fig.  104.)  Ad. — Center  of  the  crown  pale  rufous  or  ochraceous- 
bufi",  bordered  on  either  side  by  black  lines ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts,  wings, 
and  tail  brownish  olive-green;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches;  under  parts 
white ;  the  sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked  with  black.  L., 
6-17  ;  W.,  3-00 ;  T.,  2-15 ;  B.  from  N.,  -35. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Kansas  and  Virginia  north- 
ward to  Manitoba  and  Labrador,  southward  along  the  Alleghanies  to  South 
Carolina ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  very  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  20  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  R.,  Apl.  27  to  Oct.  10.     Cambridge,  abundant  S.  K.,  May  6  to  Sept.  15. 

Nest,  bulky,  covered,  the  entrance  at  one  side,  of  coarse  grasses,  weed 
stalks,  leaves,  and  rootlets,  on  the  ground.  Eggs,  four  to  five,  white,  speckled 
or  spotted  with  cinnamon-  or  rufous -brown  markings,  sometimes  finely  dis- 
tributed, sometimes  confluent  about  the  larger  end,  -80  x  -60. 

During  the  nesting  season  Oven-birds  are  among  our  commonest 
woodland  birds.  We  hear  them  everywhere ;  one  singer  scarcely  ceases 
before  another  begins.     But  when  the  song  period  has  passed  how 


366 


WOOD   WARBLERS. 


Fig.  lOa.— Black-poll  Warbler.  Fig.  106.— Maryland  Yellow-throat. 


Fig.  103.— Prairie  Warbler. 


Fig.  107.— Wilson's  Warbler. 


Fig.  104.— Oven-bird. 


Fig.  108. -Hooded  Warbler. 


Fio.  105.— Kentucky  Warbler.  Fig.  109.— Canadian  Warbler. 

Figs.  102-109.— Heads  of  Warblers.    (Natural  size.) 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  367 

comparatively  rare  they  become !  The  reason  is  not  hard  to  find.  At 
most  times  the  Oven-bird  is  somewhat  of  a  recluse.  He  passes  much 
of  his  time  on  or  near  the  ground,  generally  where  the  woods  are  more 
or  less  undergrown.  Only  the  practiced  ear  will  detect  his  sharp,  weak 
cheep. 

If  there  be  such  a  thing  as  inspiration,  I  believe  the  Oven-bird  sings 
under  its  influence.  Not  that  his  usual  song  is  in  the  least  remark- 
able, but  because  ^the  bird  is  so  obviously  moved  by  a  spirit  which  de- 
mands utterance.  Watch  him  now  as  he  is  about  to  sing.  Flying  up 
from  the  ground,  how  cautiously  he  hops  from  branch  to  branch,  and, 
with  crest  slightly  erect,  walks  carefully  along  a  limb,  when,  suddenly 
overcome  by  the  music  in  his  soul,  he  throws  fear  to  the  winds  and 
lifts  up  his  voice  in  a  crescendo  chant  which  vibrates  through  the 
woods.  Teacher,  teacher,  teacher,  TEACHER,  TEACHER,  Mr. 
Burroughs  writes  it,  and  the  description  is  difficult  to  improve  upon. 

The  bird  fairly  quivers  with  the  violence  of  his  effort.  The  result 
seems  inadequate ;  we  feel  that  he  is  striving  for  something  better, 
and,  in  truth,  as  Mr.  Bicknell  says,  he  sometimes  breaks  the  bonds 
that  ordinarily  beset  his  expression,  and  "  bursts  forth  with  a  wild  out- 
pouring of  intricate  and  melodious  song,"  the  very  force  of  which 
carries  hira  up  into  the  air  among  the  tree  tops. 

675.  Seiurus  noveboracensis  {Gmel.).  Water-Thkush.  Ad.— 
Upper  parts,  wiugs,  and  tail  uniform  olive ;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches ;  a 
bufiy  line  over  tlie  eye  ;  under  parts  white,  tinged  with  pale  sulphur-yellow, 
and  everywhere — including  throat — streaked  with  black.  L.,  6-04 ;  W.,  2*99 ; 
T.,  2-11 ;  B.  from  N.,  -36. 

Sange. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  northern  Illinois  and  north- 
ern New  England  northward ;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  to  northern  South 
America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  25  to  May  25;  July  20  to  Sejft.  Sing 
Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.,  May  11  to  21 ;  July  28  to  Oct.  3.  Cambridge, 
very  common  T.  V.,  May  8  to  25 ;  Aug.  10  to  Oct.  10. 

N'est,  of  moss,  lined  with  tendrils  and  fine  rootlets,  in  a  mossy  bank  or 
under  the  roots  of  a  fallen  tree.  Eggs,  four  to  five,  white  or  huffy  white,  with 
numerous  cinnamon-brown  markings,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  -76  x  -59. 

In  general  habits  this  bird  resembles  its  southern  relative,  the 
Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  but  during  its  migrations  it  is  frequently 
found  some  distance  from  water,  and  I  have  known  birds  spend  sev- 
eral days  beneath  evergreen  trees  on  a  lawn  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  woods.  It  is,  too,  much  less  shy  than  motacilla.  and  one  can  gen- 
erally approach  closely  enough  to  take  note  of  the  characters  which  dis- 
tinguish it  from  that  species— a  smaller  bill  and  yellower  under  parts. 

I  have  heard  it  sing  only  as  a  migrant,  when  its  song  lacked  the 
wildness  of  that  of  S.  motacilla. 


368  WOOD  WARBLERS. 

675a.  S,n,notaihilis  i-Ridgu'.).  Gkinnell's  Water- Thrush. — Simi- 
lar to  the  preceding,  but  slightly  larger,  upper  parts  darker,  under  parts  and 
line  over  the  eye  whiter.     W.,  3-10  ;  T.,  2-20  ;  B.  from  N.,  -37. 

Bange. — "  United  States,  from  Illinois  westward  to  California,  and  north 
into  British  America " ;  eastward  during  the  migrations  to  Virginia  and  the 
South  Atlantic  States,  casually  to  New  Jersey ;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States 
to  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  casual,  two  instances.  May. 

676.  Seiurus  motacilla  (  VieilL).  Louisiana  Water-Thrush.  Ad. 
— A  conspicuous  ivMte  line  over  the  eye ;  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  olive  • 
no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches ;  under  parts  white,  tinged  with  cream-buif,  espe- 
cially on  the  flanks,  and  streaked  with  black,  except  on  the  throat  and  middle 
of  the  helly.     L.,  6-28 ;  W.,  3-23 ;  T.,  2-14  ;  B.  from  N.,  -40. 

Remarks. — Aside  from  its  larger  size,  this  bird  may  be  known  from  the 
two  preceding  by  the  whiter,  more  conspicuous  line  over  the  eye,  butty  instead 
of  yellowish  tinge  on  the  under  parts,  and  absence  of  spots  on  the  throat. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Minnesota  and 
Connecticut ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  rare  S.  E.,  Apl.  14  to  Sept.  5.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  K.,  Apl. 
9  to  Aug.  24. 

iV^s^,  of  leaves,  twigs,  and  rootlets,  under  a  bank  or  the  upturned  roots  of 
a  fallen  tree.  Sggs.,  four  to  six,  white,  evenly  speckled  or  spotted,  distinctly 
and  obscurely,  with  cinnamon-  or  rufous-brown,  "To  x  -60. 

Few  birds  are  more  particular  in  their  choice  of  homes  than  the 
Water-Thrush.  He  h'ves  where  dashing  brooks  leap  down  wooded 
hillsides,  or,  more  rarely,  where  quieter  streams  flow  through  the  low- 
land forests.  He  is  a  wild,  shy  bird,  and  his  never-ceasing  alertness 
suggests  the  watchfulness  of  the  savage.  Approach  as  quietly  as  you 
will,  the  Water-Thrush  knows  of  your  coming.  With  a  tilting  motion 
he  walk^  on  ahead,  springs  from  rock  to  rock,  or  with  a  sharp,  metallic 
chink  of  alarm  takes  wing  and  darts  through  the  woods  so  low  you 
scarcely  get  a  glimpse  of  him.  From  a  distant  limb  near  the  ground 
he  watches  you,  constantly  teetering  his  body  as  though  even  when 
resting  he  must  find  some  outlet  for  his  surplus  nervous  energy. 

As  a  songster  the  Water-Thrush  is  without  a  rival.  His  song  is 
not  to  be  compared  with  the  clear-voiced  carol  of  the  Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak,  the  plaintive  chant  of  the  Field  Sparrow,  or  the  hymnlike 
melody  of  the  true  Thrushes ;  it  is  of  a  different  kind.  It  is  the  un- 
tamable spirit  of  the  bird  rendered  in  music.  There  is  an  almost  fierce 
wildness  in  its  ringing  notes.  On  rare  occasions  he  is  inspired  to  voice 
his  passion  in  a  flight-song,  which  so  far  exceeds  his  usual  performance 
that  even  the  memory  of  it  is  thrilling. 

677.  Geothlypis  fox*inosa  (  Wils.).  Kentucky  Warbler.  Ad.  6  .— 
(Fig.  105.;     A  yellow  line  from  the  bill  passes  over  and  around  the  back  of 


Louisiana  Water-Thrush. 


WOOD  WAEBLERS.  369 

the  eye ;  crown,  region  below  the  eye,  and  the  side  of  the  throat  black  ;  rest 
of  the  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green ;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches ; 
under  parts  bright  yellow.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  the  black  areas  more  gray- 
ish and  less  clearly  defined.     L.,  5-40  ;  W.,  2*60 ;  T.,  1-90  ;  B.  from  N.,  -32. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States  ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Iowa  and 
Connecticut ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  not  very  uncommon  S.  E.,  May  3  to  Sept.  5.  Sing  Sing, 
common  S.  K.,  May  2  to  Aug.  27. 

A'e5^,  bulky,  of  twigs  and  rootlets,  firmly  wrapped  with  several  thicknesses 
of  leaves,  lined  with  fine  rootlets,  on  or  near  the  ground.  Eggs.,  four  to  five, 
white  or  grayish  white,  finely  and  evenly  speckled  or  coarsely  blotched  with 
rufous  to  umber,  '72  x  -58. 

The  Kentucky  Warbler  frequents  rather  densely  grown,  well- 
watered  woods.  Here  he  may  be  found,  on  or  near  the  ground,  hop- 
ping from  limb  to  limb  or  walking  n^iQvX  searching  for  food.  When 
singing,  he  generally  mounts  to  the  lower  branches  of  the  higher  trees. 
His  song  is  entirely  unlike  that  of  any  other  Warbler.  It  is  a  loud, 
clearly  whistled  performance  of  five,  six,  or  seven  notes — tur-dle,  tur- 
dle,  tur-dle — resembling  in  tone  some  of  the  calls  of  the  Carolina  Wren. 
Even  in  the  woods  it  may  be  heard  at  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards. 

In  the  height  of  the  breeding  season  this  Warbler  is  a  most  per- 
sistent singer.  On  one  occasion,  at  Englewood,  N.  J.,  1  watched  a 
male  for  three  hours.  During  this  period,  with  the  exception  of  five 
interruptions  of  less  than  forty-five  seconds  each,  he  sang  with  the 
greatest  regularity  once  every  twelve  seconds.  Thus,  allowing  for  the 
brief  intervals  of  silence,  he  sang  about  875  times,  or  some  5,250  notes. 
I  found  him  singing,  and  when  I  departed  he  showed  no  signs  of 
ceasing. 

678.  Geothlypis  agilis  (  Wils.).     Connecticut  Warbler.    Ad.  $ . 

Head  neck,  and  breast  bluish  gray,  lighter  on  the  throat ;  crown  in  the  fall 

tipped  with  olive-green  ;  eye-ring  white  ;  rest  of  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail 
olive-green ;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches  ;  belly  yellow ;  sides  washed  with 
olive-green.  Ad.  ?  and  /w.— Similar  to  the  S  ,  but  upper  parts  uniform  olive- 
green  ;  throat  and  breast  pale  grayish  brown ;  belly  pale  yellow.  L.,  5-40 ; 
W.,  2-90 ;  T.,  1-90 ;  B.  from  N.,  -32. 

Range.— Eastern  North  America;  breeds,  as  far  as  known,  in  Manitoba: 
winters  in  northern  South  America. 

Washington,  T.  V.,  very  rare  in  spring,  late  May  :  common  from  Aug.  28 
to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V.,  Aug.  26  to  Oct.  9.  Cambridge,  fall  T.  V., 
sometimes  locally  abundant,  Sept.  10  to  30. 

JVest,  of  dry  grasses,  on  the  ground.  Eggs,  four,  white,  with  a  few  spots  of 
lilac-purple,  brown,  and  black  about  the  larger  end,  -75  x  -60  (Thompson, 
Auk,  i,  1884,  p.  192). 

"  Connecticut  Warbler  "  is  an  unfortunate  misnomer  for  this  spe- 
25 


370  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

cies.  "Swamp"  or  "  Tamarac  Warbler,"  or  "Bog  Black-throat," 
would  have  been  much  more  truly  descriptive. 

In  the  cold,  boggy  tamarac  swamps  of  Manitoba,  where  I  found  it 
breeding,  it  was  the  only  one  of  the  family,  and  almost  the  only  bird, 
whose  voice  broke  the  silence  of  those  gray  wastes.  Its  loud  song  was 
much  like  the  ''■teacher,  teacher^'  chant  of  the  Oven-bird,  but  it  also 
uttered  another,  which  I  can  recall  to  mind  by  the  aid  of  the  syllables 
"  free-chapple,  free-chaj^ple,  free-chapple,  whoit." 

The  nest  was  placed  on  the  ground,  or,  rather,  in  the  moss  which 
everywhere  covered  the  ground  to  a  depth  of  a  foot  or  two,  and  was 
composed  of  line  vegetable  fibers. 

This  species  has  somewhat  the  manners  of  the  Vireos  but  is  much 
more  active  and  sprightly  in  its  movements.  During  the  migrations 
it  is  generally  found  on  or  near  the  ground,  in  the  undergrowth  of 
low,  damp  woods,  and  also  in  bordering,  weedy  fields,  where  it  some- 
times announces  its  presence  by  a  sharp  peeh.     Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

679.  Geothlypis  Philadelphia  ( Wils.).  Mourning  Warblek. 
Ad.  $  . — Head,  neck,  and  throat  bluish  gray,  cioanging  to  blach  on  the  breast ; 
no  white  eye-rmg;  rest  of  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green;  no  wing- 
bars  or  tail-patches;  belly  yellow.  Ad.  9  and  Im. — Similar,  but  upper  parts 
olive-green,  slightly  grayer  on  the  head ;  breast  grayish,  throat  whiter.  L., 
5-63 ;  W.,  2-56;  T.,  2-13;  B.  from  N.,  -82. 

BemarTcs. — This  species  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  the  preceding,  but 
may  always  be  distinguished  from  it  by  the  absence  of  a  white  eye-ring. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  ;  breeds  from  eastern  Nebraska,  northern 
New  York,  and  Nova  Scotia  northward,  and  southward  along  the  Alleghanies 
to  Pennsylvania ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  very  rare  T.  V".,  May  15  to  30 ;  Aug.  Sing  Sing,  rare  T.  V., 
May  28  to  29  ;  Aug.  18  to  Oct.  1.  Cambridge,  rare  T.  V.,  May  22  to  June  6 ; 
Sept.  12  to  30. 

I^est,  of  strips  of  bark  and  other  fibi'ous  materials,  lined  with  hair,  on  or 
near  the  ground.  JEggs,  four,  white,  sprinkled  with  reddish  dots  near  the 
larger  end,  -71  x  -54  (Davie). 

The  Mourning  Warbler  inhabits  the  undergrowth,  choosing  situ- 
ations not  unlike  those  selected  by  the  Maryland  Yellow-throat. 

"  Its  common  song  consists  of  a  simple,  clear,  warbling  whistle,  re- 
sembling the  syllables  7rwe,  Hrue,  Hrue,  Hru,  Hob,  the  voice  rising  on 
the  first  three  syllables  and  falling  on  the  last  two. 

"  Sometimes,  when  otherwise  occupied,  the  first,  or  first  two,  syl- 
lables are  omitted.  All  through  the  breeding  season,  and  till  late  in 
July,  they  have  a  very  characteristic  habit  of  perching,  at  frequent  in- 
tervals during  the  day,  on  some  branch,  generally  a  dead  one,  and 
commonly  ten  or  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  and  singing  for  half  an 
hour  at  a  time  "  (Merriam,  Birds  of  Connecticut,  p.  24). 


WOOD   WARBLERS.  3Y1 

681.  Geothlypis    trichas   (Linn.).      Maryland    Yellow-throat. 

(Fig.  106.)  Ad.  $  . — A  broad  band  across  the  forehead,  and  on  the  cheeks  and 
ear-coverts  black,  bordered  behind  by  grayish  ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts,  wings, 
and  tail  olive-green,  sometimes  tinged  with  brownish ;  no  wing-bars  or  tail- 
patches ;  throat  and  breast  bright  yellow,  changing  to  whitish  on  the  belly; 
sides  washed  with  brownish  ;  under  tail-coverts  yellow.  Ad.  $  in  fall. — 
Similar,  but  browner  above ;  black  mask  tipped  with  grayish ;  belly  more 
yellow ;  sides  browner.  Im.  6  . — Similar,  but  the  black  mask  more  concealed, 
sometimes  merely  indicated  by  a  dusky  area.  Ad.  ?  . — No  black  mask ;  up- 
per parts,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green,  the  forehead  sometimes  tinged  with 
rufous ;  throat  and  breast  yellowish,  changing  to  whitish  on  the  belly  ;  under 
tail-coverts  yellow;  sides  brownish.     L.,  5-33;  W.,  2-20;  T.,  2-04;  B.,  -42. 

Jiange.—'E-dstern  North  America,  west  to  the  Plains  ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf 
States  to  Manitoba  and  Labrador;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  southward. 

Washington,  abundant  S.  E.,  Apl.  18  to  Oct.  20.  Sing  Sing,  common 
S.  K.,  Apl.  28  to  Oct.  23.     Cambridge,  abundant  S.  E.,  May  5  to  Oct.  20. 

JVest.,  bulky,  of  strips  of  bark,  coarse  grasses,  and  dead  leaves,  lined  with 
line  grasses,  tendrils,  and  rootlets,  on  or  near  the  ground.  J^ggs,  three  to  five, 
white,  rather  thinly  speckled  and  spotted  with  rufous  to  umber,  chiefly — 
sometimes  entirely — at  the  larger  end,  '70  x  -53. 

One  of  the  first  acquaintances  you  will  make,  when  you  begin  to 
look  for  birds,  will  be  this  black-masked  inhabitant  of  thickets  and 
bushes.  Indeed,  you  have  only  to  pause  near  his  home,  when  he 
will  meet  you  halfway.  He  announces  his  coming  by  an  impatient, 
quickly  repeated  chack,  varying  to  chit,  pit,  quit,  as,  hopping  from 
twig  to  twig,  he  finally  appears  for  a  moment  and  then  darts  back 
into  the  cover  of  his  haunts. 

His  song  is  characteristic  of  his  active,  nervous  nature,  and  is  de- 
livered with  much  force  and  energy.  It  varies  greatly  with  locality,  a 
fact  which  may  account  for  the  quite  difi'erent  descriptions  given  of 
it  by  authors.  Sometimes  it  is  written  wichity,  wichity,  wichity, 
wichity  ;  again,  rapity,  rapity,  etc. :  but  the  birds  near  New  York  city 
seem  to  me  to  say  I  beseech  you,  I  beseech  you,  1  beseech  you,  I  beseech 
you  ;  though,  to  be  sure,  the  tone  is  far  from  pleading. 

They  sing  throughout  the  summer,  and  in  August  add  a  flight 
song  to  their  repertoire.  This  is  usually  uttered  toward  evening,  when 
the  bird  springs  several  feet  into  the  air,  hovers  for  a  second,  and  then 
drops  back  to  the  bushes. 

681b.  G.  t.  ignota  GJiapm.  Florida  Yellow-throat;  Palmetto 
Bird. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  with  longer  tarsus,  tail,  and  bill ;  yellow 
of  under  parts  of  a  deeper  shade  and  of  greater  extent ;  flanks  of  a  much 
darker  color ;  upper  parts  browner ;  black  mask  wider,  its  ashy  border  (in 
summer  specimens)  slightly  paler  and  of  greater  extent ;  flrst  primary  shorter, 
equaling  the  eighth  instead  of  the  sixth.     W.,  2-l'7' ;  T.,  2-18 ;  B.,  47. 

Range. — Florida  and  southern  Georgia, 


3Y2 


WOOD   WARBLERS. 


Fig.  110.— Yellow-breasted  Chat. 
(Natural  size.) 


This  southern  representative  of  the  Maryland  Yellow-throat  is 
usually  found  in  dense  ,";rowths  of  scrub  palmetto.  Its  song  is  quite 
unlike  that  of  the  northern  bird. 

683*  Icteria;  virens  (Linn.).  Yellow-bkeasted  Chat.  Ad. — 
Largest  of  the  Warblers  ;  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green  ;  line  from 
the  eye  to  the  bill,  one  on  the  side  of  the  throat,  and  eye-ring  white ;  throat, 

breast,  and  upper  belly  bright  yellow  ; 
lower  belly  white;  sides  grayish.  L., 
7-44 ;  W.,  3-00  ;  T.,  3-07  ;  B.  from  N.,  -41. 
Range.  —  Eastern  United  States; 
breeds  as  far  north  as  southern  Minne- 
sota and  Massachusetts ;  and  winters  in 
Central  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  29 
to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E., 
Apl.  28  to  Aug.  29.  Cambridge,  rather 
rare  S.  E.,  May  15  to  (?). 

Nest.,  rather  bulky,  of  coarse  grasses, 
leaves,  and  strips  of  bark  well  interwoven,  lined  with  iiner  grasses,  in  a  crotch 
near  the  ground.  J^ggs.^  three  to  live,  white,  rather  evenly  speckled  and 
spotted  with  rufous-brown,  -90  x  -66. 

Bushy  undergrowths  or  thickets  in  partial  clearings  form  the 
home  of  the  Chat.  After  an  acquaintance  of  many  years  I  frankly 
confess  that  his  true  character  is  a  mystery  to  me.  While  listening  to 
his  strange  medley  and  watching  his  peculiar  actions,  we  are  cer- 
tainly justified  in  calling  him  eccentric,  but  that  there  is  method  in 
his  madness  no  one  who  studies  him  closely  can  doubt. 

Is  the  odd  jumble  of  whistles,  chucks,  and  caws  uttered  by  one 
bird  in  that  copse  yonder,  or  by  half  a  dozen  different  birds  in  as  many 
places'?  Approach  cautiously,  and  perhaps  you  may  see  him  in  the 
air — a  bunch  of  feathers  twitched  downward  by  the  queer,  jerky  notes 
which  animate  it.  One  might  suppose  so  peculiar  a  performance 
would  occupy  his  entire  attention,  but  nevertheless  he  has  seen  you ; 
in  an  instant  his  manner  changes,  and  the  happy-go-lucky  clown,  who 
a  moment  before  was  turning  aerial  somersaults,  has  become  a  shy, 
suspicious  haunter  of  the  depths  of  the  thicket,  whence  will  come  his 
querulous  chut,  chut  as  long  as  your  presence  annoys  him. 

684.  Sylva;iiia>  mitra/ta;  {Gmel.).  Hooded  Warbler.  (Fig.  108.) 
Ad.  (3  . — Forehead  and  cheeks  bright  yellow;  crown  black,  connected  behind 
with  the  black  throat ;  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green ;  outer  tail- 
feathei's  with  inner  vane  mostly  white ;  breast  and  belly  yellow ;  bill  with 
evident  bristles  at  its  base.  Ad.  ?. — Similar,  but  with  the  black  on  head 
and  breast  somewhat  restricted  and  less  sharply  defined.  Im.  $  . — Similar  to 
ad.  6  ,  but  the  black  feathers  with  yellow  tips.    Im.  9  . — Similar  to  ad.  9  ,  but 


WOOD  WARBLERS.  373 

with  no  black  on  the  head  or  breast.  L.,  5-67 ;  W.,  2-58 ;  T.,  2-30 ;  B.  from' 
N.,  -31. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States  ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  southern  Michigan 
and  southern  Connecticut,  and  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  may  breed;  May  1  to  30;  Aug.  15  to  Sept.  15. 
Sing  Sing,  rare  S.  E.,  to  Sept.  1. 

Nest.,  of  leaves,  strips  of  bark,  and  rootlets,  lined  with  fine  grasses  and 
rootlets,  in  the  crotch  of  a  bush  or  sapling,  about  four  feet  up.  Eggs^  four  to 
five,  white  or  creamy  white,  rather  thinly  speckled  or  spotted  with  rufous  or 
rufous-brown,  generally  in  a  wreath  at  the  larger  end,  -71  x  -53. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  a  lover  of  well- watered,  rather  densely  grown 
woods.  It  is  a  bird  of  the  lower  growth  rather  than  the  trees,  but  is 
not  a  thicket-haunter,  and  its  habit  of  flitting  restlessly  from  bush  to 
bush  renders  it  easily  observed.  When  on  the  wing  its  white  outer 
tail-feathers  are  conspicuously  displayed,  and,  with  the  striking  mark- 
ings of  the  head,  make  an  excellent  field  mark. 

The  song  of  the  Hooded  Warbler  is  sweet  and  graceful.  It  is  sub- 
ject to  much  variation,  but  as  a  rule  consists  of  eight  or  nine  notes. 
To  my  ear  the  bird  seems  to  say,  "  You  must  come  to  the  woods,  or 
you  won't  see  me." 

Its  call-note  is  a  sharp,  characteristic  chee'p,  frequently  uttered  when 
the  bird  is  anxious  for  the  safety  of  its  nest  or  young,  and  accompanied 
by  a  flit  of  the  tail,  which  reveals  the  white  outer  tail-feathers. 

685.  Sylvania  pusilla  (  Wlls.).  Wilson's  Warbler  (Fig.  107.) 
Ad.  $, . — Forehead  yellow,  crown  black ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts,  wings,  and 
tail  bright  olive-green;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches ;  under  parts  bright  yel- 
low ;  bill  with  bristles  at  its  base.  Ad.  9  .  —Similar,  but  genei'ally  without 
the  black  cap.  Im. — Similar,  but  without  black  cap.  L.,  5-00 ;  W.,  2-21 ;  T., 
2-03  ;  B.  from  N.,  -25. 

Bange.—lsorth  America;  breeds  from  British  Columbia,  Minnesota,  and 
Nova  Scotia  northward ;  winters  in  Centi'al  America. 

Washington,  rather  common  T.  V.,  May  8  to  23  ;  Aug.  28  to  Sept.  15. 
Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.,  May  9  to  30 ;  Aug.  10  to  Sept.  9.  Cam- 
bridge, conamon  T.  V.,  May  12  to  25 ;  Sept.  1  to  20. 

Nest.,  of  leaves  and  grasses,  lined  with  fine  grasses  and  hairs,  on  the  ground. 
Eggs.,  four  to  five,  white,  speckled  with  cinnamon-rufous  and  lavender-gray, 
•59  X  -48  (Davie). 

The  Black-cap  frequents  the  lower  woodland  growth,  and  is  gen- 
erally found  near  water.  Like  other  members  of  this  genus,  it  has 
decided  talents  as  a  flycatcher,  and  captures  much  of  its  prey  on  the 
wing,  darting  out  into  the  air,  but  does  not,  like  a  true  Flycatcher, 
return  to  the  same  perch. 

Its  song  is  compared  by  Minot  to  that  of  the  Redstart  or  Yellow 
Warbler,  while  Nuttall  writes  it  "  'tsh-'tsh-^tsh-'tshea"  and  to  Goss  it 
sounds  like  " zee-zee-zee-zee-e" 


374  WOOD   WARBLERS. 

686.  Sylvania  canadensis  {Linn.).  Canadiak  Warbler.  (Fig. 
109.)  Ad.  $  .—Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  gray  ;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches ; 
crown  spotted  with  black;  line  from  the  bill  to  the  eye  and  under  parts 
yellow;  sides  of  the  neck  black;  a  necklace  of  black  spots  across  the  breast; 
under  tail-coverts  white ;  bill  with  evident  bristle  at  its  base.  Ad.  9  and 
/m.— Similar,  but  with  no  black  on  the  head  or  sides  of  the  throat;  necklace 
indicated  by  dusky  spots,     L.,  5-61 ;  W.,  2-53  ;  T.,  2-23  ;  B.  from  N.,  -31. 

^a«y£;.— Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Michigan  and 
Massachusetts  to  Manitoba  and  Labrador,  and  southward  in  Alleghanies  to 
North  Carolina;  winters  in  tropics. 

Washington,  very  common  T.  V.,  May  5  to  2Y  ;  Aug.  7  to  Sept.  25.  Sing 
Sing,  common  T.  V.,  May  6  to  June  2 ;  Aug.  10  to  Oct.  11.  Cambridge,  com" 
mon  T.  v..  May  18  to  28 ;  Sept.  1  to  20. 

Nest.,  of  strips  of  bark,  bits  of  dead  wood,  and  moss  wrapped  in  leaves,  and 
lined  with  line  rootlets,  in  mossy  banks  or  under  roots.  Eggs.,  four  to  live, 
white,  speckled  and  spotted,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  rufous  or  rufous- 
brown,  -66  X  -51. 

Although  when  associated  with  other  migrating  Warblers  this  bird 
may  be  found  in  woodland  of  varied  character,  it  prefers  low,  wet 
woods,  in  which,  like  Wilson's  Black-cap,  it  frequents  the  lower  growth. 
Like  that  bird  also  it  is  an  expert  flycatcher. 

Its  song  is  sweet,  loud,  and  spirited.  Thompson  writes  it  "  rup-it- 
che,  7'up-it-che,  rup-it-ehitt-it  lit.'''' 

687.  Setophaga  x*uticilla  {Lhin.).  American  Redstart.  (See 
Fig.  53,  c.)  Ad.  5  . — Upper  parts,  throat,  and  breast  shining  black ;  basal  half 
of  the  wing-feathers  salmon,  end  half  and  wing-coverts  black ;  basal  two 
thirds  of  all  but  the  middle  tail-feathers  salmon,  end  third  and  middle  feath- 
ers black ;  sides  of  the  breast  and  flanks  deep  reddish  salmon ;  belly  white, 
tinged  with  salmon  ;  bill  with  prominent  bristles  at  its  base.  Ad.  9  .—Salmon 
of  the  $  replaced  by  dull  yellow;  head  grayish  ;  back  ashy,  with  a  greenish 
tinge ;  under  parts,  except  where  marked  with  yellow,  white.  Im. — Resemble 
the  9  ;  the  3  acquires  his  full  plumage  the  third  year,  and  the  second  year 
has  the  plumage  mottled  with  black.  L.,  5-41 ;  W.,  2-57 ;  T.,  2-27 ;  B.  from 
N.,  -27. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  Kansas  and  North  Carolina  north 
to  Labrador  and  Fort  Simpson  ;  winters  in  the  ti'opics. 

Washington,  very  abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  18  to  May  28  ;  Aug.  19  to  Sept.  25 ; 
a  few  breed.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  May  1  to  Oct.  3.  Cambridge,  very 
common  S.  R.,  May  5  to  Sept.  20. 

Nest.,  of  fine  strips  of  bark,  leaf  stalks,  and  plant  down,  firmly  interwoven, 
lined  with  tendrils  and  fine  rootlets,  in  the  crotch  of  a  sapling,  five  to  twenty 
feet  up.  Eggs.,  four  to  five,  grayish  white  or  bluish  white,  spotted  and  blotched, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  cinnamon-  or  olive-brown,  -68  x  -50. 

If  this  active,  brilliantly  colored  inhabitant  of  woodlands  was  as 
rare  as  he  is  beautiful,  we  would  consider  a  meeting  with  him  an  event 


WAGTAILS  AND  PIPITS.  375 

demanding  at  least  a  page  in  our  journals.  In  Cuba  most  of  our 
Wood  Warblers  are  known  simply  as  "Jfari^osas" — butterflies;  but 
the  Redstart's  bright  plumage  has  won  for  him  the  name  "  Candelita  " 
— the  little  torch  that  flashes  in  the  gloomy  depths  of  tropical  forests. 
Ghmg,  ching,  cJiee  ;  ser-wee,  swee,  swee-e-e  he  sings,  and  with  wings 
and  tail  outspread  whirls  about,  dancing  from  limb  to  limb,  darting 
upward,  floating  downward,  blown  hither  and  thither  like  a  leaf  in  the 
breeze.  But  the  gnats  dancing  in  the  sunlight  and  the  caterpillars 
feeding  in  the  shade  of  the  leaves  know  to  their  sorrow  that  his  erratic 
course  is  guided  by  a  purpose. 


Family  Motacillid^.    Wagtails  and  Pipits. 

Only  three  of  the  sixty  odd  species  in  this  family  inhabit  North 
America,  and  but  one  is  found  in  the  Eastern  States.  They  are  all 
terrestrial  birds,  and  have  been  named  from  their  habit  of  wagging 
their  tails. 

697.  Anthus   pensilvanicus  (Lath.).     AmEPacAN  Pipit:  Titlark. 

(See  Fig.  54.)  Ad. — Upper  parts  dark  brownish  gray  ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous ; 
wing-coverts  tipped  with  whitish  or  buffy ;  end  half  of  outer  tail-feather 
white,  next  one  tipped  with  white  ;  a  white  or  buffy  line  over  the  eye ;  under 
parts  white  or  buffy,  streaked  with  fuscous,  except  on  the  throat  and  middle 
of  the  belly  ;  hind  toe-nail  the  longest,  as  long  as  or  longer  than  its  toe.  L., 
6-38;  W.,  3-50;  T.,  2-69:  B.,  -47. 

Range. — "  North  America  at  large,  breeding  in  the  higher  parts  of  the 
Eocky  Mountains  and  subarctic  districts,  and  wintering  in  the  Gulf  States, 
Mexico,  and  Central  America"  (A.  0.  U.). 

Washington,  W.  V.,  sometimes  abundant,  Oct.  15  to  Apl.  25.  Sing  Sing, 
common  T.  V.,  March  26  to  (?) ;  Sept.  24  to  Nov.  16.  Cambridge,  T.  V., 
abundant  Sept.  20  to  Nov.  10 ;  less  common  Apl.  10  to  May  20. 

Nest,  of  grasses,  on  the  ground.  Eggs,  four  to  six,  bluish  white  or  grayish 
white,  thickly  and  evenly  speckled  with  cinnamon-  or  vinaceous-brown, 
•78  X  -57. 

Large,  open  tracts  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast  are  the  localities  in 
which  Titlarks  are  most  common,  but  they  are  also  found  in  numbers 
in  old  flelds,  meadows,  and  pastures  inland.  A  recently  burned  or 
newly  plowed  field  is  a  good  place  in  which  to  look  for  them.  Once 
seen,  there  is  little  difficulty  in  identifying  these  graceful  walkers,  as 
they  run  on  before  you,  or  with  constantly  wagging  tail  await  your 
approach.  The  individuals  of  a  flock  are  generally  scattered  over  a 
varying  space  while  feeding,  but  when  flushed  they  rise  together  and, 
with  a  soft  dee-dee,  dee-dee,  mount  high  in  the  air  as  though  bound 
for  parts  unknown,  but  often,  after  hovering  above  you  for  several 


376  THRASHERS,   WRENS,   ETC. 

seconds  in  an  undecided  way,  they  will  return  to  or  near  the  place 
from  which  they  rose. 

Their  flight  is  light  and  airy,  and  in  loose  companies  they  undulate 
gently  through  the  air  without  apparent  effort,  uttering  their  faint 
dee-dee  as  they  fly. 

Sprague's  Pipit  {700.  Anthus  spraffueii)^  a  species  of  the  Great  Plains,  has 
been  once  recorded  from  near  Charleston,  S.  C.  (Wayne,  Auk,  xi,  1894,  p.  80). 

The  European  White  Wagtail  {694-  Motacilla  alba)  and  European 
Meadow  Pipit  {698.  Anthus  pratensis)  have  been  recorded  as  of  accidental 
occurrence  in  Greenland. 


Family  Troglodytid^.    Thrashers,  Wrens,  etc. 

Two  quite  different  subfamilies  are  included  under  this  head,  the 
Thrashers  and  Mockingbirds,  numbering  some  flfty  species,  and  com- 
prising the  subfamily  Mimince,  and  the  subfamily  TroglodytincB,  which 
includes  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  known  species  of  Wrens.  The 
former  is  a  distinctively  American  group,  most  numerously  represented 
in  the  tropical  and  subtropical  parts  of  the  continent,  only  a  dozen  spe- 
cies reaching  the  United  States.  Generally  speaking,  they  are  inhab- 
itants of  scrubby  growths  and  bushy  borders  of  woods.  They  are  pos- 
sessed of  remarkable  vocal  ability,  and  the  Mockingbirds,  of  which 
there  are  sixteen  species,  are  universally  conceded  first  rank  among 
our  song  birds  so  far  as  powers  of  execution  are  concerned. 

The  Wrens  have  a  few  representatives  in  the  Old  World,  but  by 
far  the  greater  number  inhabit  America,  where  they  are  most  abundant 
in  the  tropics.  Wrens,  as  a  rule,  are  thicket  haunters.  They  are 
active,  nervous,  excitable  birds,  and  most  of  the  species  have  charac- 
teristic scolding  notes  with  which  they  express  displeasure  or  alarm. 
The  majority  are  highly  musical. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Wing  over  3'50 ;  tail  without  black  bars. 

a.  Back  slate-color ;  cap  black;  under  tail -coverts  rufous-brown. 

704.  Catbird. 

b.  Back  and  crown  grayish  ;  under  parts  whitish  ;  outer  tail-feathers  white. 

703.  Mockingbird. 

c.  Back  rufous ;  under  parts  spotted  with  black   .     705.  Brown  Thrasher. 

B.  Wing  less  than  3'00 ;  tail  with  numerous  small  bars. 

a.  Upper  parts  rufous,  a  long,  conspicuous  whitish  line  over  the  eye  ;  under 
parts  cream- buft  or  ochraceous-buft";  wing  2-25  or  over. 

718.  Carolina  Wren.     718a.  Florida  Wren. 

b.  Upper  parts  uniform  dark,  reddish  olive-brown;  back  without  white 
streaks. 


THRASHERS,   WRENS,   ETC.  377 

51.  Under  parts  whitish  ;  primaries  finely  barred;  no  white  line  over  the 

eye 721.  House  Wren.     7216.  Western  House  Ween. 

b^.  Under  parts  whitish  ;  primaries  not  barred  ;  a  white  line  over  the  eye. 

719.  Bewick's  Wren. 
b^.  Under  parts  brownish,  finely  barred  with  black.     722.  Winter  Wren. 
c.  Back  with  white  streaks, 
ci.  White  streaks  confined  to  the  center  of  the  back ;  a  white  line  over 

the  eye 725.  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren  and  races. 

c*.  Crown,  back,  and  wing-coverts  streaked  with  white. 

724.  Shokt-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

703.  Miiiiuspolyglottos(Xi/wi.).  Mockingbird.  Ad. — Upper  parts 
ashy ;  wings  and  tail  fuscous ;  basal  half  of  the  primaries  white ;  outer  tail- 
feather  white,  next  mostly  white,  third  about  half  white ;  under  parts  soiled 
white.    L.,  10-50 ;  W.,  4-50 ;  T.,  4-90 ;  B.,  -70. 

Bemarlcs. — The  sexes  can  not  be  distinguished  in  color. 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  Bahamas  and  Mexico  to  southern  Hlinois  and 
northern  New  Jersey,  and  rarely  to  Massachusetts ;  winters  from  Virginia 
southward. 

Washington,  uncommon  P.  K.,  less  numerous  in  winter.  Cambridge,  rare 
S.  E.,  Mch.  to  Nov, 

Nest^  of  coarse  twigs,  weed  stalks,  etc.,  lined  with  rootlets,  cotton,  etc.,  in 
thickets,  orange  trees,  etc.  Eggs^  four  to  six,  pale  greenish,  blue  or  bluish 
white,  sometimes  with  a  brownish  tinge,  rather  heavily  spotted  and  blotched, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  cinnamon-  or  rufous-brown,  1-00  x  -72. 

The  Mockingbird  might  be  called  our  national  song-bird ;  his  re- 
markable vocal  powers  have  made  him  famous  the  world  over,  while 
our  more  retiring  Thrushes  are  scarcely  to  be  found  mentioned  outside 
the  literature  of  ornithology.  He  is  a  good  citizen,  and  courting  rather 
than  shunning  public  life,  shows  an  evident  interest  in  the  affairs  of 
the  day.  He  lives  in  our  gardens,  parks,  and  squares,  and  even  in  the 
streets  of  the  town,  and  is  always  alert  and  on  the  qui  vive ;  a  self- 
appointed  guardian,  whose  sharp  alarm  note  is  passed  from  bird  to 
bird  like  the  signals  of  watchmen. 

In  Florida,  Mockingbirds  begin  to  sing  in  February,  and  by  March 
1  the  air  rings  with  music.  The  heat  of  midday  is  insufficient  to  quell 
their  ardor,  and  on  moonlight  nights  many  birds  sing  throughout  the 
night. 

It  is  customary  to  consider  the  Mockingbird  a  musician  possessed 
of  marvelous  technique,  but  with  comparatively  little  depth  of  feel- 
ing. He  is  said  to  create  intense  admiration  without  reaching  the 
soul.  But  listen  to  him  when  the  world  is  hushed,  when  the  air  is 
heavy  with  the  rich  fragrance  of  orange  blossoms  and  the  dewy  leaves 
glisten  in  the  moonlight,  and  if  his  song  does  not  thrill  you  then  con- 
fess yourself  deaf  to  Nature's  voices. 

Writers  have  compared  the  Mockingbird's  song  with  that  of  other 


378  THRASHERS,   WRENS,   ETC. 

renowned  songsters — the  Nightingale,  for  instance — but  Dr.  R,  W. 
Shufeldt,  writing  in  Prof.  Newton's  Dictionary  of  Birds,  puts  it  very 
nicely  when  he  says  :  •'  I  believe,  were  he  successfully  introduced  into 
those  countries  where  the  Nightingale  flourishes,  that  princely  per- 
former might  some  day  wince  as  he  was  obliged  to  listen  to  his  own 
most  powerful  strains  poured  forth  with  all  their  native  purity  by  this 
king  of  feathered  mockers.  ..." 

Nevertheless,  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  every  Mockingbird  is  a 
mocker;  there  is  much  variation  in  their  imitative  gifts.  Mr.  L.  M. 
Loomis  tells  me  of  a  Mockingbird  he  once  heard  singing  in  South 
Carolina  who  imitated  the  notes  of  no  less  than  thirty-two  different 
species  of  birds  found  in  the  same  locality,  and  this  during  ten  min- 
utes' continuous  singing !  This  was  a  phenomenal  performance,  one  I 
have  never  heard  approached,  for  in  my  experience  many  Mockingbirds 
have  no  notes  besides  their  own,  and  good  mockers  are  exceptional. 

704.  Galeoscoptes  carolinensis  {Linn.).  Catbird.  (See  Fig. 
55  h.)  Ad. — Crown  and  tail  black  ;  under  tail-coverts  chestnut.^  sometimes 
spotted  with  slaty,  and  rarely  largely  slaty ;  rest  of  the  plumage  slaty  gray. 
L.,  8-94;  W.,  3-54;  T.,  3-65:  B.,  -60. 

Jiange. — North  America;  breeds  in  the  eastern  United  States  from  the 
Gulf  States  to  New  Brunswick  and  northwestward  to  the  Saskatchewan  and 
British  Columbia;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  abundant  S.  E.,  Apl.  20  to  Oct.;  occasionally  winters.  Sing 
Sing,  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  28  to  Oct.  25.  Cambridge,  abundant  S.  E.,  May  6 
to  Sept.  30. 

Nest.,  of  twigs,  grasses,  and  leaves,  lined  with  rootlets,  in  thickets  or 
densely  foliaged  trees.     Eggs.,  three  to  five,  rich  greenish  blue,  -94  x  -67. 

The  Catbird  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent  birds  in  North  America. 
He  is  inclined  to  be  very  friendly  to  man,  and  where  he  is  well  treated 
and  his  confidence  won  he  likes  to  nest  near  our  homes,  showing  him- 
self delightfully  familiar,  coming  around  the  door  steps,  answering 
one's  calls  and  talk,  and  singing  by  the  hour  for  our  entertainment. 
In  the  garden  and  orchard  he  is  as  useful  as  he  is  enchanting,  for  he 
is  an  untiring  devourer  of  insects,  and  his  value  in  preserving  our 
fruits  can  hardly  be  overrated.  In  this  way  he  earns  his  full  share  of 
the  fruit  protected,  and  it  should  not  be  grudged  to  him  when  he  pro- 
ceeds to  take  it,  as  he  surely  will. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  the  Catbird  is  a  charming  singer, 
for  the  reason,  probably,  that  his  song  is  rarely  loud,  and  is  preferably 
given  from  the  depths  of  the  thickest  shrub  he  can  find.  One  more 
often  hears  than  sees  him  sing,  and  will  miss  even  the  hearing  unless 
quite  near,  and  gifted  with  a  listening  ear,  ever  open  to  bird  notes. 

The  Catbird  mother  is  one  of  the  most  anxious  and  devoted.     If 


THRASHERS,   WRENS,  ETC.  3Y9 

her  nest  is  discovered,  she  exhibits  so  much  distress  that  one  sympa- 
thetic to  bird  griefs  has  no  heart  to  pursue  investigations. 

The  Catbird  is  generous  and  helpful  to  others  of  his  kind  in  trouble 
of  any  sort,  feeding  and  caring  for  deserted  or  orphaned  young  ones 
of  any  species,  and  always  ready  to  aid  distracted  parents  in  the  de- 
fense of  their  home  and  little  ones. 

He  is  of  a  lively  and  restless  temperament,  entirely  lacking  the 
serene  repose  of  his  near  relatives,  the  Thrashes.  He  is  always  toss- 
ing upward  or  spreading  his  tail,  jerking  his  lithe  body  about,  now 
crouching  like  a  cat  ready  to  spring,  then  straightening  himself  up 
very  tall;  one  moment  puffing  his  feathers  out  till  he  looks  like  a 
ball,  and  the  next  holding  them  closely  against  his  body.  He  is  very 
playful,  full  of  droll  pranks  and  quaint  performances.  I  know  of 
no  bird  better  worth  cherishing  and  cultivating  than  the  Catbird. 

Olive  Thorne  Miller. 

705.  Harporhynchus  rufus  {Linn.).  Bkown  Thrasher;  Brown 
Thrush.  (See  Fig.  55,  a.)  Ad. — Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  rufous;  wing- 
coverts  tipped  with  whitish  ;  under  parts  white,  heavily  streaked  with  black, 
except  on  the  throat  and  middle  of  the  belly.  L.,  11-42  ;  W.,  4-06  ;  T.,  5-03; 
B.,  -96. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Mani- 
toba, Maine,  and  Montreal :  winters  from  Virginia  southward. 

Washington,  very  common  S.  E.,  Apl.  5  to  Oct.  15 ;  occasionally  winters. 
Sing  Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  22  to  Oct.  28.  Cambi'idge,  very  common  S.  E., 
Apl.  25  to  Oct.  15. 

Nest.,  of  twigs,  coarse  rootlets,  and  leaves,  lined  with  finer  rootlets,  in 
bushes,  thickets,  or  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  three  to  six,  bluish  white  or  grayish 
white,  thickly,  evenly,  and  minutely  speckled  with  cinnamon-  or  rufous- 
brown,  1-08  X  -80. 

Hedgerows,  shrubbery  about  the  borders  of  woods,  scrubby  growth, 
or  thickets  in  dry  fields,  are  alike  frequented  by  the  Thrasher.  Gen- 
erally speaking  he  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  undergrowth,  where  he  passes 
much  time  on  the  ground  foraging  among  the  fallen  leaves.  He  is  an 
active,  suspicious  bird,  who  does  not  like  to  be  watched,  and  expresses 
his  annoyance  with  an  unpleasant  kissing  note  or  sharply  whistled 
wheeu. 

Like  many  thicket-haunting  birds,  who  ordinarily  shun  observa- 
tion, he  seeks  an  exposed  position  when  singing.  Morning  and  even- 
ing he  mounts  to  a  favorite  perch — generally  in  the  upper  branches  of 
a  tree — and  deliberately  gives  his  entire  attention  to  his  song.  This 
is  repeated  many  times,  the  bird  singing  almost  continuously  for  an 
extended  interval.  He  is  a  finished  musician,  and,  although  his  reper- 
toire is  limited  to  one  air,  he  rivals  the  Mockingbird  in  the  richness 
of  his  tones  and  execution.    I  never  listen  to  the  Thrasher's  song  with- 


380  THRASHERS,   WRENS,   ETC. 

out  involuntarily  exclaiming,  "  What  a  magnificent  performance ! " 
Nevertheless,  there  is  a  certain  consciousness  and  lack  of  spontaneity 
about  it  which  makes  it  appeal  to  the  mind  rather  than  to  the 
heart. 

718.  Thryothorus  ludovicianus  (Za^/^.).  Carolina  Wren.  (See 
Fig.  55,  c.)  Ad. — Upper  parts  rufous- bro wn ;  feathers-of  the  rump  with  con- 
cealed downy  white  spots ;  a  long,  conspicuous  whitish  line  over  the  eye : 
wings  and  tail  rufous-brown,  finely  barred  with  black;  under  parts  oclira- 
ceous-butf  or  cream-bufl",  whiter  on  the  throat;  flanks  sometimes  with  a  few 
blackish  bars.     L.,  5-50;   VV^,  2-30;  T.,  2-00;  B.,  -60. 

iif«^</e.— Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  southern 
Iowa,  northern  Illinois,  and  southern  Connecticut ;  resident,  except  at  the 
northern  limit  of  its  range. 

Washington,  common  P.  E. 

i\'es^,  bulky,  of  grasses,  feathers,  leaves,  etc.,  lined  with  finer  grasses,  long 
hairs,  etc.,  in  holes  in  trees  or  stumps,  nooks  and  crevices  about  buildings, 
etc.  J^ggs,  four  to  six,  white  or  creamy  white,  with  numerous  cinnamon-, 
rufous- brown,  and  lavender  markings,  sometimes  wreathed  about  the  larger 
end,  '75  x  "58. 

The  cozy  nooks  and  corners  about  the  home  of  man  which  prove 
so  attractive  to  the  House  Wren  have  no  charms  for  this  bird.  His 
wild  nature  demands  the  freedom  of  the  forests,  and  he  shows  no  dis- 
position to  adapt  himself  to  new  conditions.  Undergrowths  near 
water,  fallen  tree  tops,  brush  heaps,  and  rocky  places  in  the  woods 
where  he  can  dodge  in  and  out  and  in  a  twinkling  appear  or  disap- 
pear, like  a  feathered  Jack-in-the-box,  are  the  resorts  he  chooses. 

The  nervous  activity  so  characteristic  of  all  Wrens  reaches  in  him 
its  highest  development.  Whatever  he  may  be  when  alone,  he  is  never 
at  rest  so  long  as  he  imagines  himself  observed.  Now  he  is  on  this 
side  of  us,  now  on  that ;  a  moment  later,  on  a  stump  before  us,  bob- 
bing up  and  down  and  gesticulating  wildly  with  his  expressive 
tail ;  but  as  a  rule  he  is  seldom  in  sight  more  than  a  second  at  a 
time. 

Of  course,  so  excitable  a  nature  must  find  other  than  physical  out- 
let for  his  irrepressible  energy,  and  he  accompanies  his  movements  by 
more  or  less  appropriate  notes :  scolding  cacks,  clinking,  metallic  rat- 
tles, musical  trills,  tree-toadlike  hrrriiigs — in  fact,  he  possesses  an 
almost  endless  vocabulary.  He  is  sometimes  called  Mocking  Wren, 
but  the  hundreds  of  birds  I  have  heard  were  all  too  original  to  borrow 
from  others.  In  addition  to  his  peculiar  calls  he  possesses  a  variety  of 
loud,  ringing  whistles,  somewhat  similar  in  tone  to  those  of  the  Tufted 
Titmouse  or  Cardinal,  and  fully  as  loud  as  if  not  louder  than  the  notes 
of  the  latter.  The  more  common  ones  resemble  the  syllables  whee-udel, 
whee-udel,  whee-udel,  and  tea-kettle,  tea-kettle,  tea-kettle. 


THRASHERS,  WRENS,  ETC.  381 

718a.  T.  1.   mia/inensis  Ridgw.     Florida   Wren. — Similar  to  the 

preceding,  but  larger ;  upper  parts  darker ;  under  parts  more  deeply  colored. 
W.,  2-46 ;  T.,  2-19  ;  B.,  -70. 

Bange. — Florida,  from  Pasco  and  Brevard  Counties  southward. 

719.  Thryothorus  bewickii  (Aud.).  Bewick's  Wren.  Ad.— 
Upper  parts  dark  cinnamon -brown ;  feathers  of  the  rump  with  concealed, 
downy  white  spots ;  prhnaries  not  harred  ;  central  tail-feathers  barred ;  outer 
ones  black,  tipped  with  grayish ;  a  white  line  over  the  eye  ;  under  parts 
grayish  white ;  flanks  brownish.     L.,  5-00 ;  W.,  2-30 ;  T.,  2-10 ;  B.,  '50. 

Range. — "Eastern  United  States,  rare  and  local  east  of  Alleghanies  and 
north  of  40° ;  west  to  edge  of  Great  Plains ;  winters  in  more  southern  dis-. 
tricts  (Georgia  to  eastern  Texas)  "  (Ridgw.). 

Washington,  rare  T.  V.,  may  winter,  Apl.  4  to  22;  Nov.  24  to  Dec.  22. 

Nest.,  resembles  that  of  T.  aedoii ;  location  the  same.  JEggs.,  four  to  six, 
white,  speckled  with  cinnamon-,  rufous-brown,  or  lavender,  evenly,  or  in  a 
wreath  at  the  larger  end,  -66  x  -50. 

"  No  bird  more  deserves  the  protection  of  man  than  Bewick's 
Wren.  He  does  not  need  man's  encouragement,  for  he  comes  of  his 
own  accord  and  installs  himself  as  a  member  of  the  community  wher- 
ever it  suits  his  taste.  He  is  found  about  the  cow-shed  and  barn 
along  with  the  Pewee  and  Barn  Swallow  ;  he  investigates  the  pig-sty, 
then  explores  the  garden  fence,  and  finally  mounts  to  the  roof  and 
pours  forth  one  of  the  sweetest  songs  that  ever  was  heard.  Not  .  .  . 
like  the  House  Wren's  merry  roundelay,  but  a  fine,  clear,  bold  song, 
uttered  as  the  singer  sits  with  head  thrown  back  and  long  tail  pend- 
ent— a  song  which  may  be  heard  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more,  and  in 
comparison  with  which  the  faint  chant  of  the  Song  Sparrow  sinks 
into  insignificance.  The  ordinary  note  is  a  soft,  low  pUt,  uttered  as 
the  bird  hops  about,  its  long  tail  carried  erect  or  even  leaning  for- 
ward, and  jerked  to  one  side  at  short  intervals.  In  its  movements  it 
is  altogether  more  deliberate  than  either  T.  ludovicianus  or  T.  aedon^ 
but  nothing  can  excel  it  in  quickness  when  it  is  pursued  "  (Ridgway). 

721.  Troglodytes  aedon  Vieill.  House  Wren.  Ad. — Upper 
parts  cinnamon  olive-brown,  more  rufous  on  the  rump  and  tail ;  back  gener- 
ally with  indistinct  bars ;  feathers  of  the  rump  with  concealed,  downy  white 
spots ;  wings  and  tail  finely  barred ;  under  parts  whitish,  sides  or  flanks  with 
numerous  blackish  bars.    L.,  5-00 ;  W.,  1-97  ;  T.,  1-71 ;  B.,  -50. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Manitoba,  Mont- 
real, and  Maine ;  and  winters  from  South  Carolina  southward. 

Washington,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  15  to  Sept.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E., 
Apl.  23  to  Oct.  14.     Cambridge,  locally  common  S.  R.,  May  1  to  Sept.  25. 

Nest.,  of  twigs  lined  with  grasses,  generally  filling  the  hole  in  a  tree,  bird- 
box,  crevice,  etc.,  in  which  it  is  placed.  Eggs.,  six  to  eight,  vinaceous,  uni- 
form, or  minutely  speckled,  with  generally  a  wreath  of  a  deeper  shade  at  the 
larger  end,  "65  x  •51. 


382  THRASHERS,   WEENS,  ETC. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  the  name  House  Wren  is  a  misnomer,  be- 
cause in  the  south  during  the  winter  these  birds  are  found  in  the  for- 
ests miles  from  the  nearest  habitation.  This,  however,  is  owing  to 
circumstances  over  which  the  House  Wren  has  no  control.  He  is  just 
as  much  of  a  House  W^en  in  the  south  as  he  is  in  the  north ;  you  will 
find  a  pair  in  possession  of  every  suitable  dwelling.  The  difficulty  is 
that  in  the  winter  there  are  more  House  Wrens  than  there  are  houses, 
and,  being  of  a  somewhat  irritable  disposition,  the  House  Wren  will 
not  share  his  quarters  with  others  of  his  kind.  Late  comers,  there- 
fore, who  can  not  get  a  snug  nook  about  a  house  or  outbuilding,  are 
forced  to  resort  to  the  woods. 

In  the  summer,  when  they  are  spread  over  a  much  greater  area, 
House  Wrens  are  very  particular  in  their  choice  of  haunts,  and  for 
this  reason  are  locally  distributed.  Having  selected  a  nesting  site, 
they  become  much  attached  to  it,  and  return  to  the  same  place  year 
after  year.  It  may  be  a  bird-box,  a  crevice  in  a  building,  a  hollow  in 
an  apple  tree,  or  hole  in  a  fence  rail ;  wherever  it  is,  it  is  theirs,  and 
they  will  fight  for  it  against  all  comers. 

The  song  of  the  House  Wren  is  delivered  with  characteristic  en- 
ergy—a sudden  outpouring  of  music  which  completely  dominates  the 
singer,  who  with  raised  head  and  drooped  tail  trembles  with  the  vio- 
lence of  his  effort. 

721b.  T.  a.  aztecus  (Baird).     Western  House  Wren. — Similar  to 

the  preceding,  but  upper  parts  lighter  and  less  rufous,  the  back  and  rump 
generally  distinctly  barred  with  blackish. 

Range. — Interior  of  North  America,  east  to  the  Mississippi  Valley ;  Min- 
nesota, Illinois. 

*?28.  Troglodytes  hiemalis  Vieill.  Winter  Wren,  ^c^.— Upper 
parts  dark  cinnamon-brown  ;  feathers  of  the  rump  with  concealed,  downy 
white  spots  ;  wings  and  tail  barred  ;  under  parts  washed  with  pale  cinnamon- 
hrown.^  the  lower  breast,  sides,  and  belly  more  or  less  heavily  barred  with 
black.     L.,  4-06;  W.,  1-89;  T.,  1-24;  B., -35. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  the  Northern  States  north- 
ward, and  southward  along  the  Alleghanies  to  North  Carolina;  winters  from 
JIassachusetts  and  Illinois  to  Florida. 

Washington,  rather  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  25  to  May  1.  Sing  Sing,  tolera- 
bly common  W.  V.,  Sept.  18  to  Apl.  27.  Cambridge,  T.  V.,  rather  common, 
Sept.  20  to  Nov.  25 ;  rare,  Apl.  10  to  May  1 :  a  very  few  winter. 

iVes^,  of  small  twigs  and  moss,  lined  with  feathers,  in  the  roots  of  a  tree, 
brush-heap,  or  similar  place.  "  Eggs.,  five  to  seven,  white  or  creamy  white, 
■finely  but  rather  sparingly  speckled  with  reddish  brown,  sometimes  nearly 
immaculate,  -69  x  -50"  (Ridgw.). 

When  looking  for  a  Winter  Wren  during  the  fall  migration  I  go 
to  an  old  raspberry  patch,  and  in  the  woods  watch  the  stumps  and 


THRASHERS,   WRENS,   ETC.  383 

fallen  trees.  In  the  shadow  of  the  woods  it  is  easy  to  overlook  the 
small  dark  bird  creeping  under  a  log  or  clambering  over  an  old  stump. 
But  often,  when  sitting  alone  in  the  deserted  patch,  my  heart  has  been 
warmed  by  the  sudden  apparition  of  the  plump  little  Wren  atilt  of  a 
dry  golden-rod  stalk  close  beside  me,  his  tail  standing  straight  over 
his  back  and  his  head  cocked  on  one  side.  He  would  bow  to  me  with 
a  droll  bobbing  motion,  but  his  hearty  quip-quap  and  the  frank  look 
of  interest  in  his  bright  eyes  showed  that  he  was  quite  ready  to  make 
friends.  Many  a  dull  morning  has  been  gladdened  by  such  an  en- 
counter. 

Perhaps  my  choicest  memories,  however,  are  of  a  Wren  who  left 
his  usual  home  in  the  dark  coniferous  forest  for  our  brighter  wood- 
lands of  maple  and  beech.  He  built  his  nest  in  an  upturned  root  on 
the  edge  of  a  bit  of  marshy  land,  helping  himself  to  some  feathers  the 
Scarlet  Tanager  had  left  at  his  bath  in  the  swamp  behind, 

I  had  never  before  had  a  chance  to  listen  to  his  famous  song,  and 
it  was  the  event  of  the  summer  in  the  woods.  Full  of  trills,  runs,  and 
grace  notes,  it  was  a  tinkling,  rippling  roundelay.  It  made  me  think 
of  the  song  of  the  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet,  the  volume  and  ringing 
quality  of  both  being  startling  from  birds  of  their  size.  But  while 
the  Kinglet's  may  be  less  hampered  by  considerations  of  tune,  the 
Wren's  song  has  a  more  appealing  human  character.  It  is  like  the  bird 
himself.  The  dark  swamps  are  made  glad  by  the  joyous,  wonderful 
song.  Florence  A.  Merriam. 

'?24.  Cistothox*us  Stellaris  {LicM.).     Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 
Ad. — Entire  upper  parts  streaked  with  white,  black,  and  ochraceous-buff ; 
wings  and  tail  barred  ;  under  parts  white,  washed 
with   ochraceous-buiF  on    the    breast,   sides,   and 
under  tail-coverts.     L.,  4-00;  W.,  1-75;  T.,  1-41; 
B.,  -42. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  as  far  ''^^^''^/i'' 

north  as   Manitoba  and   Massachusetts :    winters  "^t?- /^  /• 

from  the  Gulf  States  southward.  'o/ 

Washington,  verv  rare  T,  V.,  two  instances.       Fig.  111. —Short-billed 
A/r  a-     %•  a     T?     ^     V^  ^    -.^       t^  Marsh  Wren.    (Natu- 

May.     Smg  Smg,  rare  S.  K.,  to  Oct.  16,     Cam-  ^q\  size.) 

bridge,  locally  common  S.  R.,  May  15  to  Oct.  1. 

Nest.^  globular,  the  entrance  on  one  side,  of  grasses,  lined  with  plant  down, 

on  or  near  the  ground,  in  a  tussock  of  tall  grass.     Eggs.^  six  to  eight,  pure 

white,  rarely  with  a  few  lavender  spots,  "62  x  "47. 

This  bustling,  energetic  little  creature  will  much  more  often  be 
heard  than  seen.  Its  ordinary  call-note,  like  the  sound  of  two  pebbles 
struck  together,  may  be  heard  in  a  dozen  directions  for  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  before  one  of  the  birds  comes  in  view,  so  careful  are  they  to 
keep  concealed  among  the  protecting  sedge.     The  ordinary  song  of 


384:  THRASHERS,  WRENS,  ETC. 

the  species  has  much  the  same  timbre  as  the  call-uote ;  it  resembles  the 

syllables    chap chap — chap-chap,   chap    chap- chap- chap-p-p-rrrr  ; 

but  during  the  height  of  the  love  season  it  vents  its  feelings  in  a  much 
more  ambitious  refrain,  one  which,  while  it  is  everywhere  varied  and  in 
parts  very  musical,  is  still  conspicuous  for  the  amount  of  chappering 
that  enters  into  its  composition.  While  singing,  it  is  usually  seen 
clinging  to  the  side  of  some  tall  swaying  reed  with  its  tail  bent  for- 
ward so  far  as  almost  to  touch  the  head,  thus  exhibiting  in  an  exag- 
gerated manner  a  characteristic  attitude  of  all  the  Wrens. 

This  is  less  a  species  of  the  deep-water  marshes  than  is  the  long- 
billed  member  of  the  genus,  and  often  it  will  be  found  in  places 
that  are  little  more  than  damp  meadows.  It  is  remarkably  mouselike 
in  its  habits  and  movements,  and  can  be  flushed  only  with  extreme 
difficulty.  Ernest  E.  Thompson. 

725.  Cistothorus  palustris  (  Wils.).  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren. 
Ad. — Crown  olive-brown,  blacker  on  the  sides,  a  white  line  over  the  eye ; 

back  black,  streaked  with  white ;  rump  cin- 
namon-brown ;  wings  and  tail  barred ;  un- 
der parts  white ;  sides  washed  with  grayish 
brown.    L.,  5-20  ;  W.,  1-95 ;  T.,  1-68 ;  B.,  -52. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds 
from  the  Gulf  States  to  Manitoba  and  Massa- 
chusetts ;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States,  and 

Fig.  112.-Long-billed  Marsh      ^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^'t^'  southward  to  Mexico. 
Wren.    (Natural  size.)  Washington,  very  numerous  S.  E.,  Apl. 

30  to  Oct.  30.  Sing  Sing,  common -S.  E., 
May  10  to  Oct.  28.  Cambridge,  locally  abundant  S.  E.,  May  15  to  Oct.; 
sometimes  a  few  winter. 

Mst,  globular,  the  entrance  at  one  side,  of  coarse  grasses,  reed  stalks,  etc., 
lined  wtth  fine  grasses,  attached  to  reeds  or  bushes.  Eggs.,  five  to  nine,  uni- 
form, minutely  speckled  or  thickly  marked  with  cinnamon-  or  olive-brown, 
•65  X  -49. 

If  you  would  make  the  acquaintance  of  this  Marsh  Wren,  you  have 
only  to  visit  his  home  in  the  cat-tails  and  tall,  reedy  grasses  bordering 
rivers,  creeks,  and  sloughs.  It  will  be  unnecessary  to  announce  your- 
self ;  he  will  know  of  your  presence  long  before  you  know  of  his,  and 
from  the  inner  chambers  of  his  dwelling  will  proceed  certain  scolding, 
caching  notes  before  this  nervous,  excitable  bit  of  feathered  life  ap- 
pears on  his  threshold.  With  many  flourishes  of  the  tail  and  much 
bobbing  and  attitudinizing,  he  inquires  your  business,  but  before  you 
have  had  time  enough  to  inspect  him  he  has  darted  back  into  his 
damp  retreats,  and  you  can  tell  of  his  frequently  changing  position 
only  by  his  scolding,  grumbling  notes. 

All  this   time   his   neighbors — and  he  generally  has  numbers  of 


CREEPERS.  385 

them — have  doubtless  been  charming  you  with  their  rippling,  bub- 
bling, gurgling  song.  It  is  quite  beyond  their  control;  they  seem 
filled  to  overflowing  with  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  music.  Some- 
times, like  a  mine  of  melody,  it  explodes  within  them  and  lifts  them 
from  the  dark  recesses  of  the  flags  up  into  the  air  above. 

735b.  C  p.  griseus  Brewst.  Worthington's  Marsh  Wren.— 
"  Black  of  upper  parts  much  duller  and  less  extended  than  in  palustris^  usu- 
ally confined  to  the  extreme  sides  of  the  crown  and  a  short,  narrow  area  in 
the  middle  of  the  back,  and  in  extreme  specimens  almost  wholly  absent. 
Brown  of  sides,  fianks,  and  upper  parts  pale  and  grayish.  Dark  markings  of 
the  under  tail-coverts,  flanks,  sides,  and  breast  faint,  confused,  and  incon- 
spicuous, sometimes  practically  wanting."  W.,  1*80  ;  T.,  1-53;  B.,  -50  (Brew- 
ster, Auk,  x,  1893,  p.  218). 

Range. — Coast  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 

725.1.  C.  p.  xnarianSB  {IScott).  Marian's  Marsh  Wren.— Similar 
to  C.  fulustriSy  but  with  the  upper  parts  darker,  the  sides  and  flanks  of  about 
the  same  color  as  the  rump  ;  the  under  tail-coverts,  and  sometimes  the  breast, 
barred  or  spotted  with  black.     W.,  1-85  ;  T.,  1-75 ;  B.,  -52. 

Range. — Gulf  coast  of  Florida,  and  probably  westward  to  Louisiana. 

Family  Certhiid^.    Creepers. 

This  is  an  Old- World  family,  numbering  about  twelve  species,  of 
which  only  one  is  found  in  America.  Our  bird  and  its  several  races 
belong  to  the  northern  group  containing  the  species  with  stiffened 
tails.  It  is  a  true  tree-creeper,  and,  like  a  Woodpecker,  uses  its  tail 
as  a  prop  in  climbing. 

726.  Certhia  fkmiliaris  americana  (Bonap.).    Brown  Creeper. 

(See  Fig.  56.)  Ad. — Upper  parts  mixed  white,  fuscous,  and  ochraceous-buff ; 
vump  -pale  rufous ;  wings  with  a  band  of  cream-buft';  tail  pale  grayish 
brown,  the  feathers  stiff ened  and  sTiarply  pointed  ;  under  parts  white;  bill 
slightly  emwed.     L.,  5-6(5 ;  W.,  2-56  ;  T.,  2-65  ;  B.,  -68. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  Minnesota  and  Maine  north- 
ward, and  southward  in  Alleghanies  to  North  Carolina ;  winters  from  Canada 
to  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  common  W.  V.,  Sept.  25  to  Apl.  25.  Sing  Sing,  tolerably 
comiDon  W.  V.,  Sept.  20  to  May  7.  Cambridge,  common  T.  V.,  rather  com- 
mon W.  v.,  Sept.  25  to  May  1. 

Nest,  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  bits  of  dead  wood,  moss,  etc.,  placed  behind 
the  loose  bark  of  a  tree.  Eggs,  five  to  eight,  white,  spotted  and  speckled 
with  cinnamon-  or  rufous-brown  and  lavender,  chiefly  in  a  wreath  at  the 
larger  end,  -62  x  -47  (Brewster,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  iv,  1879,  p.  199). 

The  facts  in  the  case  will  doubtless  show  that  the  patient,  plod- 
ding Brown  Creeper  is  searching  for  the  insects,  eggs,  and  larv»  which 
are  hidden  in  crevices  in  the  bark  :  but  after  watching  him  for  several 
minutes  one  becomes  impressed  with  the  thought  that  he  has  lost  the 
26 


386  NUTHATCHES  AND  TITS. 

only  thing  in  the  world  he  ever  cared  for,  and  that  his  one  object  in 
life  is  to  find  it.  Ignoring  you  completely,  with  scarcely  a  pause,  he 
winds  his  way  in  a  preoccupied,  near-sighted  manner  up  a  tree  trunk. 
Having  finally  reached  the  top  of  his  spiral  staircase,  one  might  sup- 
pose he  would  rest  long  enough  to  survey  his  surroundings,  but  like  a 
bit  of  loosened  bark  he  drops  off  to  the  base  of  the  nearest  tree  and 
resumes  his  never-ending  task. 

He  has  no  time  to  waste  in  words,  but  occasionally,  without  stop- 
ping in  his  rounds,  he  utters  a  few  screeping,  squeaky  notes,  which 
are  about  as  likely  to  attract  attention  as  he  is  himself.  As  for  song, 
one  would  say  it  was  quite  out  of  the  question  ;  but  Mr.  Brewster,*  in 
his  biography  of  this  bird,  tells  us  that  in  its  summer  home,  amid 
the  northern  spruces  and  firs,  it  has  an  exquisitely  pure,  tender  song 
of  four  notes,  "  the  first  of  moderate  pitch,  the  second  lower  and  less 
emphatic,  the  third  rising  again,  and  the  last  abruptly  falling,  but 
dying  away  in  an  indescribably  plaintive  cadence,  like  the  soft  sigh  of 
the  wind  among  the  pine  boughs." 

Family  Parid^.    Nuthatches  and  Tits. 

Two  well-marked  subfamilies  are  included  here,  the  Siftince,  or 
Nuthatches,  and  Parince,  or  Chickadees.  They  are  distributed  through- 
out the  temperate  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  About  twenty 
species  of  Nuthatches  are  known,  of  which  four  are  American.  They 
are  all  climbers,  but,  unlike  the  Woodpeckers  and  Creepers,  climb 
downward  as  well  as  upward,  and  do  not  use  their  tails  as  a  support. 
Their  name  is  derived  from  their  habit  of  wedging  nuts  (with  our 
species,  usually  beechnuts)  in  a  crevice  in  the  bark  and  then  hatching 
them  by  repeated  strokes  with  their  bill. 

The  subfamily  Parince  contains  some  seventy-five  species,  of  which 
no  less  than  fifty,  including  the  thirteen  North  American  species,  be- 
long in  the  genus  Parus.  Both  our  Nuthatches  and  Chickadees  are 
migratory  at  the  northern  parts  of  their  range.  After  the  migration 
they  are  generally  found  in  small  groups,  composed  probably  of  the 
members  of  a  family,  which  wander  through  the  woods  within  certain 
definite  limits, 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Throat  black. 

a.  Crown  brown :  sides  chestnut 740.  Hudsonian  Chickadee. 

ft.  Crown  Vjlack ;  outer  margin  of  greater  wing-coverts  distinctly  whitish  ; 

wing  generally  over  2-50 735.  Chickadee. 

c.  Crown  black;  greater  wing-coverts  without  white  margins;  wing  under 
.    2-50 736.  Carolina  Chickadee, 

♦  BuU.  Nutt.  On.  Club,  iv,  1879,  pp.  199-209. 


NUTHATCHES  AND   TITS.  387 

B.  Throat  not  black. 
a.  Under  parts  more  or  less  washed  with  rufous ;  a  black  or  gray  streak 

through  the  eye 728.  Ked-breasted  Nuthatch. 

h.  Under  parts  white  or  whitish  ;  under  tail-coverts  more  or  less  rufous  ;  tail 
with  white  spots. 

727.  White-breasted  Nuthatch.    7276.  Florida  Nuthatch. 

c.  Under  parts  white  or  whitish  ;  flanks  with  rufous  ;  no  white  in  the  tail ; 
head  crested 731.  Tufted  Titmouse. 

d.  Whole  top  of  the  head  brown  ....  729.  Brown-headed  Nuthatch. 

72'J',  Sitta  carolinensis  Lath.  White-breasted  Nuthatch.  Ad. 
$, . — Top  of  the  head  and  front  part  of  the  back  shining  black;  rest  of  the 
upper  parts  bluish  gray  ;  inner  secondaries  bluish  gray,  marked  with  black ; 
wing-coverts  and  quills  tipped  with  whitish ;  outer  tail-feathers  black,  with 
white  patches  near  their  tips ;  middle  ones  bluish  gray ;  sides  of  the  head  and 
under  parts  white;  lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  mixed  with  rufous. 
Ad.  2  .—Similar,  but  the  black  of  the  head  and  back  veiled  by  bluish  gray. 
L.,  6-07  ;  W.,  3-48 ;  T.,  1-92;  B.,  -76. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Minne- 
sota and  New  Brunswick  ;  generally  resident  throughout  its  range. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.  and  W.  V.,  less  common  S.  K.  Sing  Sing, 
common  P.  K.  Cambridge,  P.  E.,  rare  in  summer,  uncommon  in  winter,  com- 
mon in  migrations ;  most  numerous  in  Oct.  and  Nov. 

Nest.^  of  feathers,  leaves,  etc.,  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or  stump.  Eggs.^  five  to 
eight,  white  or  creamy  white,  thickly  and  rather  evenly  spotted  and  speckled 
with  rufous  and  lavender,  -75  x  -57. 

When  the  cares  of  a  family  devolve  upon  him,  the  Nuthatch 
eschews  all  society  and  rarely  ventures  far  from  his  forest  home.  But 
in  the  winter  I  believe  even  the  birds  are  affected  by  the  oppressive 
loneliness ;  the  strangers  of  summer  become  for  a  time  boon  compan- 
ions, and  we  find  Downy  Woodpeckers,  Chickadees,  and  Nuthatches 
wandering  about  the  woods  or  visiting  the  orchards  on  apparently  the 
best  of  terms. 

Few  birds  are  easier  to  identify:  the  Woodpecker  pecks,  the 
Chickadee  calls  '.'  chickadee^''  while  the  Nuthatch,  running  up  and 
down  the  tree  trunks,  assumes  attitudes  no  bird  outside  his  family 
would  think  of  attempting.  His  powers  of  speech  are  in  no  wise 
disturbed  by  his  often  inverted  position,  and  he  accompanies  his 
erratic  clamberings  by  a  conversational  twitter  or  occasionally  a  loud, 
nasal  yank,  yank,  which  frequently  tells  us  of  his  presence  before  we 
see  him. 

He  is  not  too  absorbed  in  his  business  to  have  a  mild  interest  in 
yours,  and  he  may  pause  a  moment  to  look  you  over  in  a  calm  kind  of 
way,  which  somehow  makes  one  feel  that  perhaps,  after  all,  Nuthatches 
are  of  as  much  importance  as  we.  But  his  curiosity  is  soon  satisfied ; 
affairs  are  evidently  pressing,  and  with  a  yank,  yank,  he  resumes  his 


388 


NUTHATCHES  AND   TITS. 


search  for  certain  tidbits  in  the  shape  of  grubs  or  insects'  eggs  hidden 
in  the  bark. 

There  is  such  a  lack  of  sentiment  in  the  Nuthatch's  character,  he 
seems  so  matter-of-fact  in  all  his  ways,  that  it  is  difficult  to  imagine 
him  indulging  in  anything  like  song.  But  even  he  can  not  withstand 
the  all-conquering  influences  of  spring,  and  at  that  season  he  raises 
his  voice  in  a  peculiar  monotone — a  tenor  hah-hah-hah-hah-hah — 
sounding  strangely  like  mirthless  laughter. 

727b.  S.  C.  atkinsi  iScott.  Florida  White-beeasted  Nuthatch. — 
Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  somewhat  smaller,  the  wing-coverts  and  quills 
but  slightly  or  not  at  all  tipped  with  whitish,  the  9  with  the  top  of  the  head 
and  nape  black,  as  in  the  $  .     W.,  3-32;  T.,  1-80;  B.,  -70. 

R(xnge. — Florida,  northward  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  southern  South  Caro- 
lina. 

728.  Sitta  canadensis  Linn.  Eed-breasted  Nuthatch.  Ad.  ^  . — 
Top  of  the  head  and  a  wide  strijje  through  the  eye  to  the  nape  shining  black ; 

a  white  line  over  the  eye ;  upper  parts 

bluish  gray ;  no  black  marks  on  the 

secondaries ;  outer  tail-feathers  black, 

with    white   patches  near  their  tips ; 

middle  ones  bluish  gray  ;  throat  white  ; 

rest  of  the  under  parts  ochraceotis-huff  or  rufous. 

Ad.  <i  . — Similar,  but  the  top  of  the  head  and  stripe 

through  the  eye  bluish  gray,  like  the  back ;  under 

parts  paler.     L.,  4-62 ;  W.,  2-66  ;  T.,  1-58  ;  B.,  -50. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  from  Mani- 
toba and  Maine  northward,  and  southward  along 
the  Alleghanies  to  North  Carolina;  winters  from  about  the  southern  limit  of 
its  breeding  range  to  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  irregularly  abundant  W.  V.,  sometimes  rare,  Sept.  15  to  May 
10.  Sing  Sing,  irregular  W.  V.,  Aug.  8  to  May  8.  Cambridge,  irregular  T.  V. 
and  W.  v.,  Sept.  16  to  Nov.  25 ;  Nov.  25  to  Apl.  1,  or  rarely  May  5. 

Nest.^  of  grasses,  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or  stump.  Eggs.,  four  to  six,  white  or 
creamy  white,  speckled  with  cinnamon-,  rufous-brown,  and  lavender,  -60  x  -47. 

While  resembling  the  White-breasted  Nuthatch,  this  more  northern 
species  differs  from  it  sufficiently  both  in  notes  and  appearance  to  be 
easily  distinguished.  Its  black  face-stripe  is  a  noticeable  character, 
while  to  the  trained  ear  its  higher,  finer,  more  nasal,  slightly  drawled 
yna,  yna  is  quite  unlike  the  White-breast's  vigorous  yank,  yank.  The 
Red-breast  has  an  evident  partiality  for  pine  trees,  and  may  be  seen 
hovering  about  the  cones  while  looking  for  a  foothold  from  which  to 
extract  their  seeds. 

729.  Sitta  pusilla  (Loth.).  Bkown-headed  Nuthatch.  Ad. — Top 
and  back  of  the  head  dark  grayish  brotvn  ;  a  whitish  patch  on  the  nape  ;  no 


Fig.    113.  —  Red  -  breasted 
Nuthatch.  (Natural  size.) 


NUTHATCHES  AND   TITS. 


389 


white  over  the  eye  ;  rest  of  upper  parts  bluish  gray ;  outer  tail-feathers  black, 
tipped  with  grayish,  midale  ones  bluish  gray ;  \inder  parts  grayish  white. 
L.,  4-50 ;  W.,  2-60 ;  T.,  1-25 ;  B.,  -52. 

Bange. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  north  to  Virginia ;  accidentally 
to  Missouri  and  New  York. 

Nest^  of  feathers,  grasses,  etc.,  generally  near  the  gi'ound,  in  a  hole  in  a  tree 
or  stump.  Eggs^  five  to  six,  white  or  creamy  white,  heavily  spotted  or  blotched 
with  cinnamon-  or  olive-brown,  '56  x  -46. 

This  little  Nuthatch,  the  Red-cockaded  Woodpecker,  and  Pine 
Warbler,  are  characteristic  birds  of  the  great  pineries  in  our  Southern 
States.  Frequently  they  are  found  associated.  The  Woodpeckers 
generally  keep  to  the  tree  tops,  the  Warblers  live  on  or  near  the  ground, 
while  the  Nuthatches  scramble  actively  about  from  the  base  of  the 
trunk  to  the  terminal  twigs.  The  only  note  I  have  heard  them  utter 
is  a  conversational  tnee,  tnee.  They  are  talkative  sprites,  and,  like  a 
group  of  school  children,  each  one  chatters  away  without  paying  the 
slightest  attention  to  what  his  companions  are  saying. 

731.  Parus  bicolor  (Linn.).  Tufted  Titmouse.  Ad. — Forehead 
black ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  gray ;  under  parts  whitish  ; 
sides  washed  with  rufous ;  a  conspicu- 
ous crest.  L.,  6-00;  W.,  3-10;  T.,  2-70; 
B.,  -42. 

Bangs.  —  Eastern  United  States ; 
breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  southern 
Iowa  and  northern  New  Jersey;  resi- 
dent throughout  its  breeding  range. 

Washington,  very  common  P.  E., 
more  so  in  winter. 

Nest.,  of  leaves,  moss,  strips  of  bark, 
feathers,  etc.,  in  Woodpeckers'  deserted 
holes,  stumps,  etc.  Eggs.,  five  to  eight, 
white  or  creamy  white,  rather  coarsely 
and  evenly  marked  with  rufous-brown.  Fig.  114.— Tufted  Titmouse.    (Natural 

>Ti       cc  size.) 

•71  X  -55. 

The  Tufted  Titmouse  is  a  bird  of  very  general  distribution  in  wood- 
lands, where  its  presence  is  always  made  knowniDy  its  notes.  Its  com- 
mon call  is  a  loud,  clearly  whistled  peto,  peto,  peto,  peto,  which  may  be 
repeated  by  the  same  individual  for  hours  at  a  time.  Occasionally  the 
key  is  changed,  and  at  first  the  notes  are  decidedly  pleasing,  but  the 
bird  finally  wearies  one  by  its  monotonous  repetition. 

It  utters  also  other  whistled  calls,  and  a  de-de-de-de,  much  like  the 
notes  of  the  Chickadee,  though  somewhat  louder  and  hoarser. 

The  Tufted  Tit  is  not  a  shy  bird  and  may  be  approached  with  ease. 
Its  conspicuous  crest  is  an  excellent  field  mark. 


390  NUTHATCHES  AND   TITS. 

735.  Parus  atricapillus  {Linn.).  Chickadee.  (See  Fig.  57,  b.) 
/46^.— Top  of  the  head,  nape,  and  throat  shining  black  ;  sides  of  the  head  and 
nock  white ;  back  ashy ;  outer  vanes  of  greater  wing-coverts  distinctly  mar- 
gined with  white  ;  wing  and  tail-feathers  margined  with  whitish  ;  breast 
wliite;  belly  and  sides  washed  with  cream-butf.  L.,  5-27  ;  W.,  2-53  ■  T  2-43  • 
B., -37. 

A'a/i^e.— Eastern  North  America  ;  breeds  from  southern  Illinois  and  Penn- 
sylvania northward  to  Labrador,  and  southward  along  the  Alleghanies  to 
North  Carolina;  in  winter  migrates  a  short  distance  below  the  southern  limit 
of  its  breeding  range. 

Washington,  rare  and  irregular  W.  V.,  Dec.  to  Apl.  15.  Sing  Sing,  toler- 
ably common  P.  E.  Cambridge,  very  common  P.  E.,  more  numerous  in  fall 
and  winter. 

Nest,  of  moss,  grasses,  feathers,  and  plant  down,  in  old  stumps,  holes  in 
trees,  etc.,  not  more  than  fifteen  feet  up.  Eggs,  five  to  eight,  white,  spotted 
and  speckled,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  witli  cinnamon-  or  rufous-brown, 
•60  X  -48. 

When  most  birds  were  strangers  to  me,  I  remember  thinking  what 
a  blessing  it  would  be  if  every  one  spoke  his  name  as  plainly  as  does 
this  animated  bunch  of  black  and  white  feathers.  No  need  of  a  text- 
book to  discover  his  name:  with  winning  confidence  he  introduced 
himself,  and  probably  for.  this  reason  he  has  alw  iys  been  my  best 
friend  among  birds.     I  never  ^       .^  fl       ^  .^ 


Si 


hear  his  voice  in  the  woods      C — I ^-— ^     or     Ciztl 

without      answering       him :      [-  -\  \ 

Soon  he  comes  to  me,  mildly  inquisitive  at  first,  looking  about  for  the 
friend  or  foe  whose  call  has  attracted  him.  In  an  unconcerned  way 
he  hops  from  limb  to  limb,  whistling  softly  the  while,  picking  an  in- 
sect's egg  from  beneath  a  leaf  here  or  larva  from  a  crevice  in  the  bark 
there,  all  the  time  performing  acrobatic  feats  of  which  an  accom- 
plished gymnast  might  be  proud.  Finally  his  curiosity  becomes 
aroused,  he  ceases  feeding,  and  gives  his  entire  attention  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  bird  who  so  regularly  replies  to  him.  Hopping  down  to 
a  limb  within  three  feet  of  my  head,  he  regards  me  with  puzzled  in- 
tentness ;  his  little  black  eyes  twinkle  with  intelligence,  he  changes 
his  call,  and  questions  me  with  a  series  of  cMck-d-dees,  liquid  gurgles, 
and  odd  chuckling  notes  which  it  is  beyond  my  power  to  answer,  and 
finally,  becoming  discouraged,  he  refuses  to  renew  our  whistled  ccn- 
verpation  and  retreats  to  the  woods. 

On  two  occasions  Chickadees  have  flown  down  and  perched  upon 
my  hand.  During  the  few  seconds  they  remained  there  I  liecame  rigid 
with  the  emotion  of  this  novel  experience.  It  was  a  mark  of  con- 
fidence which  seemed  to  initiate  me  into  the  ranks  of  woodland 
dwellers. 


KINGLETS  AND   GNATCATCHERS.  391 

736.  Parus  carolinensis  Aud.  Carolina  Chickadee. — Similar  to 
the  preceding  species,  but  smaller;  greater  wing-coverts  not  margined  with 
whitish ;  wing  and  tail-feathers  with  less  white  on  their  outer  vanes.  L., 
4-06-4-75;  W.,  2-20-2-48 ;  T.,  1-88-2-12;  B.,  •30--32. 

Range. — Southeastern  United  States,  north  to  middle  New  Jersey  and 
Illinois;  resident  from  southern  New  Jersey  southward. 

Washington,  very  common  P.  K.,  particularly  in  winter. 

Nest.,  of  grasses,  fine  strips  of  bark,  feathers,  hair,  etc.,  in  holes  in  trees, 
stumps,  etc.     JEggs.,  five  to  eight,  similar  in  color  to  those  of  P.  atricapillus. 

My  experience  with  this  southern  Chickadee  has  been  confined 
largely  to  Florida.  There  I  found  it  a  comparatively  shy  bird,  with 
notes  quite  unlike  those  of  P.  atricapillus.  Instead  of  the  two  clear 
whistles  which  atricapillus  in  New  Jersey  utters,  the  Florida  bird  re- 
peats four  rather  tremulous  notes,  and  there  is  also  a  substantial  differ- 
ence in  its  other  calls,  one  of  which  resembles  the  words  my  watcher 
key,  my  watcher  key. 

Mr.  C.  W.  Richmond  writes  me  that  at  Washington  the  chick-a-dee 
call  of  carolinensis  is  higher  pitched  and  more  hurriedly  given  than 
that  of  atricapillus,  and  that  the  whistle  consists  of  three  notes. 

Writing  from  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  where  both  spe- 
cies occur  together,  Mr.  Brewster  says :  "  In  one  place  a  male  of  each 
species  was  singing  in  the  same  tree,  the  low,  plaintive  tswee-dee-twsee- 
dee  of  the  P.  carolinensis,  contrasting  sharply  with  the  ringing  te-derry 
of  its  more  northern  cousin  "  (The  Auk,  vol.  iii,  1886,  p.  177). 

740.  Parus  hudsonicus  Forst.  Htjdsoniak  Chickadee.  Ad. — ■ 
Crown  dull,  dark  brownish  gray;  back  brownish  ashy;  wings  and  tail  gray- 
ish ;  throat  black ;  ear-coverts,  sides  of  the  neck,  breast,  and  belly  white ; 
sides  rufous. 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  from  Nova  Scotia,  northern  New  Eng- 
land, and  northern  Michigan  northward ;  south  in  winter  rarely  to  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Cambridge,  rare,  perhaps  only  casual,  W.  V.,  Nov.  1  to  Apl.  1. 

Nest,  of  moss  and  felted  fur,  in  holes  in  trees  and  stumps.  Eggs,  six  to 
seven,  not  distinguishable  from  those  of  P.  atricapillus,  "Gl  x  -50. 

This  northern  Chickadee  is  frequently  found  associated  with  P. 
atricapillus,  which  it  resembles  in  habits,  though  its  notes  are  quite 
unlike  the  notes  of  that  species. 

Family  Sylviid^.    Old-World  Warblers,  Kinglets,  and 

Gnatcatchers. 

This  family  is  divided  into  three  subfamilies  :  (1)  The  SylviincB,  or 
Old-World  Warblers,  numbering  one  hundred  species,  confined  exclu- 
sively to  the  Old  World,  with  the  exception  of  one  species  found  in 
Alaska ;  (2)  the  Regulince,  or  Kinglets,  of  which  three  of  the  seven 


392       KINGLETS  AND  GNATCATCHBRS. 

known  species  are  found  in  the  New  World ;  (3)  the  PolioptilincB,  or 
Gnatcatchers,  an  American  group  containing  about  fifteen  species, 
three  of  which  are  found  in  the  United  States. 

The  Kinglets  and  Gnatcatchers  are  active  little  birds,  and  con- 
stantly flit  from  limb  to  limb  in  their  search  for  food.  They  are  pos- 
sessed of  decided  character,  build  remarkably  beautiful  nests,  and  some 
species  are  noteworthy  songsters. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

A.  With  a  bright-colored  crest. 

a.  Crest  ruby,  without  black    .    .    749.  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet  (Ad.  ^  ). 
h.  Crest  yellow,  or  orange  and  yellow,  bordered  by  black. 

748.  Golden-crowned  Kinglet. 

B.  Without  a  colored  crest. 

a.  Back  ashy  blue ;  outer  tail-feathers  white. 

751.  Blue-gray  Gnatcatciier. 
h.  Back  olive-green ;  no  white  in  tail.    Ruby-crowned  Kinglet  (  v  and  im.). 

748.  Regulus  satraipa>  Lickt.    Golden-crowned  Kinglet.    Ad.  5  . 

— Center  of  crown  bright  reddish  orange,  bordered  by  yellow  and  black ;  a 
whitish  line  over  the  eye ;  rest  of  upper  parts  olive-green ;  wings  and  tail 

fuscous,  margined  with  olive-green  ;  tail  slightly 
forked  ;  under  parts  soiled  whitish.  Ad.  9  . — Sim- 
ilar, but  crown  without  orange,  its  center  bright 
yellow,  bordered  on  either  side  by  black.  L.,  4'07  ; 
VV.,  2-14;  T.,1-75;  B.,  -28. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  from  the 
northern  United  States  northward,  and  southward 
along  the  Rockies  into  Mexico,  and  in  the  APe- 

,     g"hianies   to   North   Carolina ;    winters    from   the 
Fig.  115.- Golden-crowned  ^,  t     -^     a-  -4.    v       ^■  ^     ^x.     r^   m: 

Kinglet.    (Natural  size.)      southern  limit  ol  its  breeding  range  to  the  Gull 

States. 

Washington,  abundant  W.  V.,  Oct.  5  to  Apl.  27.  Sing  Sing,  common 
W.  v.,  Sept.  20  to  Apl.  28.  Cambridge,  very  common  T.  V.,  common  W.  V., 
Sept.  20  to  Apl.  25. 

Nest.,  generally  pensile,  of  green  mosses,  lined  with  fine  strips  of  soft  inner 
bark,  fine  black  rootlets,  and  feathers,  in  coniferous  trees,  six  to  sixty  feet 
from  the  ground.  Eggs.,  nine  to  ten,  creamy  white  to  muddy  cream-color, 
speckled  and  blotched  with  pale  wood-brovn,  and,  rarely,  faint  lavender, 
•55  X  -44.     (See  Brewster,  Auk,  v,  1888,  p.  337.) 

This  Kinglet  resembles  in  habits  its  Ruby-crowned  cousin,  with 
which  during  the  migrations  it  is  frequently  associated.  Its  notes, 
however,  are  quite  unlike  those  of  that  species,  its  usual  call-note  being 
a  fine,  high  ti-ti,  audible  only  to  practiced  ears.  In  his  extended  ac- 
count of  the  nesting  habits  of  this  species,  as  observed  by  him  in 
Worcester  County,  Mass.  (Auk,  I.  c),  Mr.  Brewster  writes  that  its  song 
*'  begins  with  a  succession  of  five  or  six  fine,  shrill,  high-pitched,  some- 


KINGLETS  AND   GNATCATCHERS.  393 

what  faltering  notes,  and  ends  with  a  short,  rapid,  rather  explosive 
warble.  The  opening  notes  are  given  in  a  rising  key,  but  the  song 
falls  rapidly  at  the  end.  The  whole  may  be  expressed  as  follows :  tzee, 
tzee,  tzee,  tzee,  ti,  ti,  ter,  ti-ti-ti-ti." 

Muffled  in  its  thick  coat  of  feathers,  the  diminutive  Goldcrest 
braves  our  severest  winters,  living  evidence  that,  given  an  abundance 
of  food,  temperature  is  a  secondary  factor  in  a  bird's  existence. 

749.  Regulus  calendula  (Linn.).  Euby-crowned  Kinglet.  (See 
Fig.  58,  a.)  Ad.  6  . — Crown  with  a  partly  concealed  crest  of  bright  red  ;  rest 
of  upper  parts  grayish  olive-green,  brighter  on  the  rump ;  wings  and  tail  fus- 
cous, edged  with  olive-green ;  two  whitish  wing-bars ;  tail  slightly  forked, 
the  middle  feathers  shortest;  under  parts  soiled  whitish,  more  or  less  tinged 
with  buffy.  Ad.  9  and  Im. — Similar,  but  without  the  red  crown-patch.  L., 
4-41 ;  W.,  2-24  ;  T.,  1-73 ;  B.,  -29. 

Bemarhs. — Females  and  young  are  warblerlike  in  general  appearance,  but 
note  the  short  first  primary,  barely  one  inch  in  length. 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  from  the  northern  border  of  the  United 
States  northward  ;  wmters  from  South  Carolina  southward  into  Mexico. 

Washington,  abundant  T.  V.,  Apl.  5  to  May  10 ;  Sept.  25  to  Nov.  1 ;  occa- 
sionally winters.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  8  to  May  13  ;  Sept.  16  to 
Nov.  3.  Cambridge,  rather  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  10  to  May  5;  Oct.  10  to 
Nov.  5. 

Nest,  usually  semipensile,  of  moss,  fine  strips  of  bark,  neatly  interwoven, 
lined  with  feathers,  in  coniferous  trees,  twelve  to  thirty  feet  from  the  ground. 
Eggs.,  five  to  nine,  dull  whitish  or  pale  buffy,  faintly  speckled  or  spotted  with 
pale  brown,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  "55  x  -43  (Davie).  ■ 

When  the  leaves  begin  to  turn  you  will  notice  numerous  very 
small,  olive-green  birds  flitting  about  the  terminal  twigs  of  the  trees 
and  lower  growth,  in  the  woods,  orchards,  or  hedgerows.  They  re- 
semble Warblers,  but  are  much  tamer — you  can  almost  touch  them — 
and  have  a  habit  of  nervously  flitting  their  wings  every  few  seconds, 
perhaps  accompanying  the  action  by  a  wrenlike  scolding  note.  You 
will  not  often  hear  them  sing  at  this  season,  and  there  is  little  in  their 
voice  or  appearance  to  tell  you  that  they  are  among  the  most  famous 
of  feathered  songsters. 

The  May  morning  when  first  I  heard  this  Kinglet's  song  is  among 
the  most  memorable  of  my  early  ornithological  experiences.  The 
bird  was  in  the  tree  tops  in  the  most  impassable  bit  of  woods  near  my 
home,  The  longer  and  more  eagerly  I  followed  the  unseen  singer  the 
greater  the  mystery  became.  It  seemed  impossible  that  a  bird  which 
I  supposed  was  at  least  as  large  as  a  Bluebird  could  escape  observation 
in  the  partly  leaved  trees.  The  song  was  mellow  and  flutelike,  and 
loud  enough  to  be  heard  several  hundred  yards  ;  an  intricate  warble 
past  imitation  or  description,  and  rendered  so  admirably  that  I  never 


394  THRUSHES,   BLUEBIRDS,   ETC. 

hear  it  now  without  feeling  an  impulse  to  ap[)laud.  The  bird  is  so 
small,  the  song  so  rich  and  full,  that  one  is  reminded  of  a  chorister 
with  the  voice  of  an  adult  soprano.  To  extend  the  comparison,  one 
watches  this  gifted  but  unconscious  musician  flitting  about  the  trees 
with  somewhat  the  feeling  that  one  observes  the  choir-boy  doffing  his 
surplice  and  joining  his  comrades  for  a  game  of  tag. 

751*  Polioptilac8erulea(Z«/m.).  Blue-geay  Gnatcatcher.  (See 
Fig.  58,  b.)  Ad.  $  . — Upper  parts  bluish  gray  ;  forehead  and  front  of  the  head 
narrowly  bordered  by  black ;  wings  edged  with  grayish,  the  secondaries  bor- 
dered with  whitish;  outer  tail-feathers  white,  changing  gradually  until  the 
middle  ones  are  black ;  under  parts  dull  grayish  white.  Ad.  ?  . — Similar, 
but  without  the  black  on  the  head.     L.,  4-50  ;  W.,  2-05 ;  T.,  2*00  ;  B.,  -40. 

Batige. — Eastern  United  States;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  northern 
Illinois,  southern  Ontario,  and  New  Jersey,  and  wanders  rarely  to  Minnesota 
and  Maine ;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Washington,  rather  common  S.  K.,  Apl.  5  to  Sept. 

JVest,  of  tendrils,  fine  strips  of  bark,  and  fine  grasses  firmly  interwoven 
and  covered  externally  with  lichens,  on  a  horizontal  branch  or  in  a  crotch, 
ten  to  sixty,  usually  thirty  feet  up.  -Eggs,  four  to  five,  bluish  white,  thickly 
spotted  and  speckled  with  cinnamon-,  rufous-brown,  or  umber.  -56  x  -46. 

The  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  frequents  rather  densely  foliaged  trees, 
generally  in  the  woods,  showing  a  preference  for  the  upper  branches. 
He  is  a  bird  of  strong  character,  and  always  seems  to  me  like  a  minia- 
ture Mockingbird  with  some  of  the  habits  of  Kinglets. 

His  exquisitely  finished  song  is  quite  as  remarkable  as  the  ordinary 
performance  of  his  large  prototype,  but  is  possessed  of  so  little  volume 
as  to  be  inaudible  unless  one  is  quite  near  the  singer.  His  character- 
istic call-note — a  rather  sudden  ting,  like  the  twang  of  a  banjo  string 
— can  be  heard  at  a  greater  distance. 

Family  Turdid^.    Thrushes,  Bluebirds,  etc. 

The  three  hundred  species  included  in  this  large  family  are  placed 
by  systematists  in  several  subfamilies.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty 
are  true  Thrushes  belonging  in  the  subfamily  Turdinm.  These  are 
distributed  throughout  the  world,  some  twelve  species  inhabiting  the 
United  States.  As  a  rule,  they  inhabit  wooded  regions,  are  migratory, 
and  gregarious  or  sociable  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  during  their  mi- 
grations and  in  winter. 

As  songsters  they  are  inferior  to  some  of  our  birds  in  power  of 
execution,  but  their  voices  are  possessed  of  greater  sweetness  and 
expression,  and  they  are  conceded  first  rank  among  song-birds  by  all 
true  lovers  of  bird  music. 


Wood  Thrush. 
Wilson's  Thrush. 


THRUSHES,  BLUEBIRDS,  ETC.  395 


KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

A.  Tail  blue ;  back  blue  or  bluish 766.  Bluebird. 

£.  Tail  black  or  blackish,  tipped  with  white 761.  Kobin. 

C.  Tail  white,  tipped  with  black 765.  Wheateab. 

Z>.  Tail  olive-brown  or  rufous,  without  white  spots. 

a.  Upper  parts  cinnamon-brown ;  tail  not  brighter  than  the  back. 

ai.  Entire  under  parts,  including  sides,  more  or  less  heavily  marked  with 
round,  black  spots ;  back  brighter  than  tail      .     .    755.  Wood  Thrush. 

a^.  Throat  and  upper  breast  pale  butfy,  with  small,  cinnamon-brown, 
wedge-shaped  spots ;  belly  pure  white ;  sides  with  a  barely  perceptible 
grayish  wash 756.  Wilson's  Thrush. 

b.  Upper  parts  olive ;  back  and  tail  nearly  the  same  color. 

b^.  Throat,  breast,  cheeks,  eye-ring,  and  lores  deep  cream-buff. 

758a.  Olive-backed  Thrush. 
Ja.  Throat,  breast,  cheeks,  eye,  and  space  before  the  eye  white,  with  only 
a  ver-i/  slight  buffy  tinge. 

757.  Gray-cheeked  Thrush.    757a.  Bicknell's  Thrush. 

c.  Upper  parts  olive-brown,  sometimes  inclining  to  cinnamon ;  upper  tail- 
coverts  and  tail  rufous 7596.  Hermit  Thrush. 

755.  Turdus  mustelinus  Gmel.  Wood  Thrush.  Ad. — Upper  parts 
bright  cinnamon- brown,  brightest  on  the  h,ead,  and  changing  gradually  to  pale 
olive-brown  on  the  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail ;  under  parts  white,  thickly 
marked  with  large,  round  black  spots  except  on  the  throat  and  middle  of  the 
belly.    L.,  8-29  ;  W.,  4-44 ;  T.,  2-92 ;  B.,  -65. 

RemarJcs. — The  Wood  Thrush  may  be  distinguished  from  our  other 
Thrushes  (1)  by  its  larger  size;  (2)  by  its  brighter,  more  rufous  color  above; 
and  (3)  especially  by  the  numerous  large,  round  black  spots  on  its  under 
parts.  These  cover  not  only  the  breast,  but  are  equally  numerous  on  the 
sides,  where  they  extend  well  up  under  the  wings. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States;  breeds  as  far  north  as  Minnesota,  Ver- 
mont, and  Quebec ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  20  to  Oct.  15.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  K., 
Apl.  30  to  Oct.  2.     Cambridge,  rather  common  S.  E.,  May  12  to  Sept.  15. 

Nest,  of  leaves,  rootlets,  fine  twigs,  and  weed  stalks,  firmly  interwoven, 
with  an  inner  wall  of  mud  and  lining  of  tine  rootlets,  generally  in  saplings, 
about  eight  feet  up.  Eggs,  three  to  five,  greenish  blue,  lighter  and  with  less 
green  than  those  of  the  Catbird,  averaging  lighter,  but  not  certainly  distin- 
guishable in  color  from  those  of  the  Kobin,  1-05  x  -76. 

The  Wood  Thrush  is  not  so  distinctively  a  bird  of  the  woods  as  Ihe 
Veery.  Well-shaded  lawns  are  sometimes  graced  by  his  presence,  and 
at  all  times  he  is  more  familiar  and  easier  to  observe  than  his  retiring 
relative.  His  large  size,  bright  cinnamon  upper  parts,  and  especially 
his  conspicuously  spotted  breast  and  sides,  are  his  most  striking  field 
characters. 

When  excited,  his  usual  call-note,  pit-pit,  is  rapidly  repeated  until 


396  THRUSHES,   BLUEBIRDS,  ETC. 

it  resembles  the  sound  produced  by  striking  large  pebbles  together, 
quite  unlike  the  whistled  wheeu  of  the  Veery.  The  Wood  Thrush  is  a 
lovable  bird,  with  a  voice  suited  to  his  gentle  disposition,  but  when  his 
young  are  in  real  or  fancied  danger  his  sharp  alarm-note  gives  painful 
evidence  of  his  fear  and  anxiety. 

The  songs  of  the  Wood  and  Hermit  Thrushes  are  of  the  same  char- 
acter, but,  while  the  Hermit  is  the  more  gifted  performer,  the  Wood 
Thrush  does  not  suffer  by  the  comparison.  His  calm,  restful  song 
rings  through  the  woods  like  a  hymn  of  praise  rising  pure  and  clear 
from  a  thankful  heart.  It  is  a  message  of  hope  and  good  cheer  in 
the  morning,  a  benediction  at  the  close  of  day  : 

The  flutelike  opening  notes  are  an  invitation 
to  his  haunts ;  a  call  from  Nature  to  yield  our- 
selves to  the  ennobling  influences  of  the  forest.  Come  to  me. 

756*  Turdus  fViScescens  Steph.  Wilson's  Thrush;  Veerv.  Ad. 
—Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  nearly  uniform  cinnamon-brown,  not  so  bright 
as  in  the  Wood  Thrush ;  center  of  the  throat  white  ;  sides  of  the  throat  and 
breast  with  a  delicate  tinge  of  cream-buff,  spotted  with  small  wedge-shaped 
spots  of  near'ly  the  same  color  as  the  bach  ;  belly  white;  sides  white,  with  only 
a  faint  tinge  of  grayish.     L.,  7-52 ;  W.,  3-84  ;  T.,  2-87 ;  B.,  -53. 

Remarks. — The  Veery's  distinguishing  characters  are  (1)  its  unifoi'm  cin- 
namon-brown upper  parts;  (2)  its  delicately  marked  breast;  and  (3)  particu- 
larly its  almost  white  sides.  The  Wood  Thrush  has  the  sides  heavily  spotted, 
and  the  other  Thrushes  have  this  part  more  or  less  strongly  washed  with 
grayish  or  brownish. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Illinois  and  Penn- 
sylvania to  Manitoba  and  Newfoundland,  and  southward  along  the  Allegha- 
nies  to  North  Carolina  ;  winters  in  Central  America. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  26  to  May  28  ;  Aug.  20  to  Sept.  30.  Sing 
Sing,  common  S.  R.,  Apl.  29  to  Sept.  5.  Cambridge,  very  common  S.  E.,  May 
10  to  Sept.  8. 

Nest.,  of  strips  of  bark,  rootlets,  and  leaves,  wrapped  with  leaves  and  lined 
with  rootlets,  on  or  near  the  ground.  Eggs.,  three  to  five,  greenish  blue,  of  the 
same  shade  as  those  of  the  Wood  Thrush,  -88  x  -65. 

The  Veery's  home  is  in  low,  wet,  rather  densely  undergrown  wood- 
lands. He  is  a  shyer,  more  retiring  bird  than  the  Wood  Thrush ;  he 
lives  nearer  the  ground  and  is  less  likely  to  leave  the  cover  of  his 
haunts.  For  this  reason,  even  in  localities  where  both  are  equally 
common,  the  Wood  Thrush  is  more  frequently  observed. 

The  Veery's  usual  call-note  is  a  clearly  whistled, wAeew,  which  can 
be  closely  imitated  ;  his  son^-  is  a  weird,  ringing  monotone  of  blended 
alto  and  soprano  tones.  Neither  notes  nor  letters  can  tell  one  of  its 
peculiar  quality  ;  it  has  neither  break  nor  pause,  and  seems  to  emanate 
from  no  one  place.     If  you  can  imagine  the  syllables  vee-r-r-hu  re* 


THRUSHES,  BLUEBIRDS,  ETC.  397 

peated  eight  or  nine  times  around  a  series  of  intertwining  circles,  the 
description  may  enable  you  to  recognize  the  Veery's  song. 

The  Veery  has  a  double  personality,  or  he  may  repeat  the  notes  of 
some  less  vocally  developed  ancestor,  for  on  occasions  he  gives  utter- 
ance to  an  entirely  uncharacteristic  series  of  caching  notes,  and  even 
mounts  high  in  the  tree  to  sing  a  hesitating  medley  of  the  same  un- 
musical cacks,  broken  whistled  calls,  and  attempted  trills.  Fortu- 
nately, this  performance  is  comparatively  uncommon,  and  to  most  of 
us  the  Veery  is  known  only  by  his  own  strange,  unearthly  song.  His 
notes  touch  chords  which  no  other  bird's  song  reaches.  The  Water- 
Thrush  is  inspiring,  the  Wood  and  Hermit  Thrushes  "  serenely  exalt 
the  spirit,"  but  the  Veery  appeals  to  ev^en  higher  feelings ;  all  the 
wondrous  mysteries  of  the  woods  find  a  voice  in  his  song  ;  he  thrills 
us  with  emotions  we  can  not  express. 

756a.  T.  f.  salicicolus  {Bidgw.).  Willow  Thkush.— Similar  to  the 
preceding,  but  with  the  upper  parts  slightly  darker. 

Eange. — Rocky  Mountains,  north  to  British  Columbia ;  south  in  winter  to 
the  tropics ;  migrates  as  far  east  as  Illinois  and,  casually,  South  Carolina. 

757.  Tardus  aliciSB  Baird.  Gkay-cheeked  Thkush.  .4f/.— Upper 
parts  uniform  olive^  practically  no  difference  between  the  colors  of  the  back 
and  tail ;  eye-ring  whitish^  lores  grayish  ;  middle  of  the  throat  and  middle 
of  the  belly  white  ;  sides  of  the  throat  and  breast  with  a  very  faint  tinge  of 
cream-buff;  the  feathers  of  the  sides  of  the  throat  spotted  with  wedge-shaped 
marks,  those  of  the  breast  with  half-round  black  marks ;  sides  brownish  gray 
or  brownish  ashy.     L.,  7-58  ;  W.,  4-09  ;  T.,  2-96  ;  B.,  -55. 

Eemarks. — The  uniform  olive  of  the  upper  parts  of  this  species  at  once 
separates  it  from  our  eastern  Thrushes  except  its  subspecies  hichielli  and  the 
Olive-backed  Thrush.  From  the  latter  it  may  be  known  by  the  comparative 
absence  of  buff  on  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  throat,  by  its  whitish  eye-ring 
and  grayish  lores. 

Range. — North  America ;  breeds  in  Labrador  and  northwestward  to  Alas- 
ka ;  migrates  through  eastern  North  America  to  Central  America. 

Washington,  rather  common  T.  V.,  May  10  to  June  5 ;  Sept.  10  to  Oct.  10. 
Sing  Sing,  tolerably  common  T.  V.,  May  15  to  June  1 ;  Sept.  20  to  Oct.  17. 
Cambridge,  uncommon  T.  V.,  May  15  to  25 ;  Sept.  25  to  Oct.  6. 

Nest.^  of  grasses,  leaves,  strips  of  iine  bark,  etc.,  lined  with  fine  grasses,  in 
low  trees  or  bushes.  JEggs.  four,  greenish  blue,  spotted  with  rusty  brown, 
•92  X  -67. 

During  its  migrations  Alice's  Thrush  may  be  found  associated  with 
the  Olive-backed  Thrush,  from  which  it  can  be  distinguished  in  life 
only  by  an  expert.  It  is  a  rather  shy  bird,  and  is  apt  to  fly  up  from 
the  ground  to  some  low  limb,  and,  after  a  moment's  pause,  seek  a  more 
distant  perch  before  one  reaches  fair  opera-glass  range. 

This  species  has  been  so  long  confused  with  Bicknell's  Thrush  that 


398  THRUSHES,   BLUEBIRDS,   ETC. 

in  many  cases  it  is  impossible  to  say  to  which  birds  certain  records 
apply.  Doubtless  there  is  little  difference  in  their  notes  or  habits,  but 
our  knowledge  of  alicice  in  its  summer  home  is  too  limited  for  us  to 
say  much  about  it  (see,  however,  Nelson,  Rep.  on  Nat.  Hist.  Collec- 
tions made  in  Alaska,  p.  216). 

757a.  T.  a.  bicknelli  Ridgw.  Bicknell's  Thrush.— Similar  to  the 
preceding,  but  averagiug  somewhat  brighter  and  constantly  smaller.  L., 
6-25-7-25  ;  W.,  3-40-3-80  ;  T.,  2-60-2-70  ;  B.,  •50--52  (Ridgw.). 

^a;i(7e.— Breeds  in  the  higher  parts  of  the  Catskills  and  northward  to  the 
White  Mountains  and  Nova  Scotia ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  apparently  rare  T.  V.,  two  instances,  May.  Cambridge, 
rather  common  T.  V.,  May  15  to  May  25  ;  Sept.  25  to  Oct.  6. 

Nest^  essentially  like  that  of  T.  swainso/iii,  both  in  construction  and  posi- 
tion. J^ggs,  greener  and  more  finely  spotted  than  those  of  swainsonii  (Brew- 
ster, Minot''s  Land  Birds  and  Gariie  Birds,  2d  ed.,  appendix,  p.  468). 

"  In  northern  New  England  Bicknell's  Thrush  breeds  from  an  alti- 
tude of  about  three  thousand  feet  (scattered  pairs  may  be  found  lower 
than  this)  to  the  extreme  upper  limits  of  tree  growth,  but  most  abun- 
dantly among  the  dwarfed,  densely  matted  spruces  and  balsams  which 
cover  such  extensive  areas  on  the  upper  slopes  and  ridges  of  our  higher 
mountains.  Here,  in  an  atmosphere  always  cool  and  ordinarily  satu- 
rated with  moisture  from  passing  clouds,  it  spends  the  summer  in 
company  with  such  birds  as  Swainson's  Thrushes,  Winter  Wrens, 
Yellow-rumped  and  Black-poll  Warblers,  Juncos,  White-throated 
Sparrows,  and  Yellow-bellied  Flycatchers.  In  many  places  it  is  quite 
as  numerous  as  any  of  these  species,  and  in  certain  favored  localities 
it  probably  outnumbers  them  all  put  together.  Nevertheless  one  may 
spend  hours  in  its  chosen  haunts  without  getting  a  fair  view  of  a  sin- 
gle individual,  for,  despite  (or  perhaps  really  because  of)  the  fact  that 
these  solitudes  are  rarely  invaded  by  man,  Bicknell's  Thrush  is,  while 
breeding,  one  of  the  very  shyest  of  our  smaller  birds.  .  .  . 

"  The  song  is  exceedingly  like  that  of  the  Veery,  having  the  same 
ringing,  flutelike  quality ;  but  it  is  more  interrupted,  and  it  ends  dif- 
ferently,— the  next  to  the  last  note  dropping  a  half  tone,  and  the  final 
one  rising  abruptly  and  having  a  sharp  emphasis.  The  ordinary  calls 
are  a  whistled  pheu  practically  identical  with  that  of  T.  fuscescens,  a 
harsh  note  which  recalls  the  cry  of  the  Night  Hawk,  a  low  cluck  much 
like  that  of  the  Hermit  Thrush,  and  a  pip  or  peenJc  similar  to  that  of 
Swainson's  Thrush.     The  last  is  rarely  heard  "  (Brewster,  1.  c,  p.  467). 

758a.  Turdus  ustulatus  STrainsonii  (Cab.).  Olive-backed 
Thrush  ;  Swainson's  Thrush.  Ad. — Upper  parts  uniform  olive  ;  back  and 
tail  practically  the  same  color;  eye-ring  deep,  cream-buff.^  lores  the  same ; 
whole  throat  and  breast  with  a  strong  tinge  of  deep  cream-buflf  or  even  ochra- 


THRUSHES,   BLUEBIRDS,   ETC.  399 

ceous-buff ;  the  feathers  of  the  sides  of  the  throat  with  wedge-shaped  black 
spots  at  their  tips,  those  of  the  breast  with  rounded  black  spots  at  their  tips  ; 
middle  of  the  belly  white;  sides  brownish  gray  or  brownish  ashy.  L.,  7-17  ; 
W.,  3-93;  T.,  2-76;  B., -50. 

Remarhs. — This  bird  will  be  confused  only  with  the  Gray-cheeked  and 
Bicknell's  Thrushes,  from  which  it  differs  in  the  much  stronger  suffusion  of 
butf  on  the  throat  and  breast,  its  buff  eye-ring  and  lores. 

Range. — Breeds  from  Manitoba,  northern  New  England,  and  New  Bruns- 
wick to  Alaska  and  Labrador,  and  southward  in  the  Eocky  Mountains,  and 
along  the  Alleghanies  to  Pennsylvania ;  winters  in  the  tropics. 

Washington,  common  T.  V.,  May  4  to  28  ;  Sept.  22  to  Oct.  25.  Sing  Sing, 
tolerably  common  T.  V.,  May  2  to  30 ;  Sept.  19  to  Oct.  22.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon T.  v..  May  12  to  June  3 ;  Sept.  10  to  Oct.  5. 

Nest.,  of  coarse  grasses,  moss,  rootlets,  leaves,  and  bark,  lined  with  rootlets 
and  grasses,  in  bushes  or  small  trees,  about  four  feet  up.  Eggs,  three  to  four, 
greenish  blue,  more  or  less  spotted  and  speckled  with  cinnamon-brown  or 
rufous,  -90  X  -64. 

Passing  northward  in  the  spring,  in  small,  silent  bands,  scattered 
through  the  woodland  undergrowth,  whence  they  quietly  slip  away,  if 
disturbed,  often  to  the  higher  branches  of  the  trees,  these  birds  easily 
escape  observation.  In  late  September  or  early  October  their  loud, 
metallic  call-notes  may  be  recognized  overhead  at  night,  and  during 
the  day  the  birds  themselves  may  be  found  on  the  edges  of  the  woods 
or  along  tangled  hedgerows,  associated  with  Sparrows  and  other  mi- 
grants. Their  summer  home  is  in  the  coniferous  forest  of  the  north, 
although  they  do  not  confine  themselves  strictly  to  the  evergreen 
woods,  and,  avoiding  its  depths,  seek  rather  the  vicinity  of  clearings 
well  grown  up  with  firs  and  spruces.  Here,  day  after  day,  the  same 
musician  may  be  seen  pouring  forth  his  ringing  song  from  some  com- 
manding elevation — preferably  a  dead  tree  top.  If  approached,  he 
promptly  dives  down  into  the  underbrush,  where  he  is  very  likely 
joined  by  his  mate,  and  both  proceed  to  scold,  in  a  mild  way,  the 
chance  intruder.  Little  is  ever  seen  of  these  shy  birds,  but  fortunately 
their  notes  are  quite  characteristic,  and  the  sole  obstacle  in  distinguish- 
ing them  from  those  of  the  Hermit  Thrush,  a  bird  frequenting  the 
same  localities,  lies  in  the  difficulty  of  tracing  them  to  their  source. 

The  effect  of  its  loud  and  beautiful  song  is  much  enhanced  by  the 
evening  hush  in  which  it  is  most  often  heard.  It  lacks  the  leisurely 
sweetness  of  the  Hermit  Thrush's  outpourings,  nor  is  there  pause,  but 
in  lower  key  and  with  greater  energy  it  bubbles  on  rapidly  to  a  close 
rather  than  fading  out  with  the  soft  melody  of  its  renowned  rival. 
There  are  also  a  variety  of  other  notes,  the  most  frequent  being  a 
'puU  of  alarm,  pitched  higher  than  a  corresponding  duck  of  the  Hermit 
Thrush.  J.  Dwight,  Jr. 


400  THRUSHES,   BLUEBIRDS,   ETC. 

759b.  Tardus  aonalaschksB  pallasii  {Cab.).    Hermit  Thrush. 

Ad. — Upper  parts  olive-brown,  sometimes  cinnamon- brown  ;  tail  pale  rufous.^ 
of  a  distinctly  difterent  color  from  the  back  ;  throat  and  breast  with  a  slight 
buffy  tinge;  feathers  of  the  sides  of  the  throat  with  wedge-shaped  black  spots 
at  their  tips ;  those  of  the  breast  with  large,  rounded  spots ;  middle  of  the 
belly  white ;  sides  brownish  gray  or  brownish  ashy.  L.,  7"17  ;  W.,  3*56 ;  T., 
2-74;  B.,  -51. 

Remarks. — The  Hermit  Thrush  may  always  be  easily  identified  by  its 
rufous  tail.  It  is  the  only  one  of  our  Thrushes  which  has  the  tail  brighter 
than  the  back. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from  northern  Michigan  and 
Massachusetts  northward,  and  southward  along  the  Alleghanies  to  I'ennsyl- 
vania ;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  and  New  Jersey  to  the  Gulf  States. 

Washington,  very  common  T.  V.,  sometimes  not  uncommon  \V.  V.,  Apl. 

4  to  May  15 ;  Oct.  15  to  Nov.  Sing  Sing,  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  5  to  May  9 ; 
Oct.  18  to  Nov.  26.     Cambridge,  very  common  T.  V.,  Apl.  16  to  May  5 ;  Oct. 

5  to  Nov.  15 ;  occasionally  one  or  two  may  winter. 

Nest.1  of  moss,  coarse  grasses,  and  leaves,  lined  with  rootlets  and  pine 
needles,  on  the  ground.  Eggs.,  three  to  four,  greenish  blue,  of  a  slightly 
lighter  tint  than  those  of  the  Wood  Thrush,  -88  x  -69. 

This  Thrush  comes  to  us  in  the  spring,  when  the  woods  are  still 
bare,  and  lingers  in  the  autumn  until  they  are  again  leafless — the 
earliest  as  it  is  the  latest  of  our  Thrushes.  It  is  common  on  its  mi- 
grations, but  attracts  little  notice,  for,  though  not  really  a  shy  bird, 
its  disposition  is  retiring,  and  it  is  most  at  home  in  secluded  wood- 
land and  thickety  retreats.  Still,  it  often  finds  seclusion  enough  along 
shrubby  roadsides,  and  may  so  far  doff  its  hermit  traits  as  to  approach 
dwellings,  where  its  attractive  lightness  of  motion  and  ease  of  manner 
may  be  observed  from  indoors.  It  frequently  descends  to  the  ground, 
but  is  soon  back  again  in  the  branches,  making  short  flights  from 
perch  to  perch,  often  with  long,  quiet  pauses  in  the  intervals.  It  may 
be  known  at  sight  by  its  habit  of  lifting  its  tail  slightly,  especially 
after  alighting.  This  action  is  usually  accompanied  by  the  bird's 
customary  note — a  low  chuck,  which  sounds  scarcely  thrushlike. 

The  Hermit  Thrush  bears  high  distinction  among  our  song  birds. 
Its  notes  are  not  remarkable  for  variety  or  volume,  but  in  purity 
and  sweetness  of  tone  and  exquisite  modulation  they  are  imequaled. 
Some,  indeed,  have  deemed  the  Wood  Thrush  not  inferior:  but  though 
the  Wood  Thrush  at  its  best  seems  sometimes  to  touch  the  very  highest 
chords  of  bird  music,  the  strains  of  its  wilder  cousin,  in  tranquil  clear- 
ness of  tone  and  exalted  serenity  of  expression,  go  beyond  any  woods 
music  we  ever  hear. 

While  traveling,  the  Hermit  Thrush  is  not  in  full  voice,  and  he 
who  would  know  its  song  must  follow  it  to  the  mossy  forests,  which 
are  its  summer  home.  Eugene  P.  Bicknell. 


THRUSHES,    BLUEBIRDS,   ETC.  40I 

The  Eed-winged  Thrush  (760.  Turdus  iliacus)^  a  European  species,  is  of 
accidental  occurrence  in  Greenland. 

761.  Merula  migratoria  {Linn.).  American  Eobin.  (See  Fig. 
59,  a.)  Ad.  3  . — Top  and  sides  of  the  head  black,  a  white  spot  above  the  eye ; 
rest  of  the  upper  parts  grayish  slate-color ;  margins  of  wings  slightly  lighter ; 
tail  black,  the  outer  feathers  with  white  spots  at  their  tips;  throat  white, 
spotted  with  black  ;  rest  of  the  under  parts  rufous  (tipped  with  white  in  the 
fall),  becoming  white  on  the  middle  of  the  lower  belly.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but 
back  of  head  tipped  with  grayish  ;  back,  tail,  and  under  parts  lighter.  Young 
in  nestling  plumage. — Back  and  under  parts  spotted  with  black.  L.,  10-00; 
W.,  4-96  ;  T.,  3-87  ;  B.,  -84. 

Bangs. — "  Eastern  North  America  to  the  Eocky  Mountains,  including  east- 
ern Mexico  and  Alaska.  Breeds  from  near  the  southern  border  of  the  United 
States  northward  to  the  arctic  coast;  winters  from  southern  Canada  and  the 
Northern  States  (irregularly)  southward"  (A.  O.  U.). 

Washington,  rather  common  S.  E.,  abundant  T.  V.,  from  Feb.  to  Apl.  • 
irregularly  common  W.  V.  Sing  Sing,  common  S.  E.,  Mch.  4  to  Oct.  30  ;  a  few 
winter.     Cambridge,  very  abundant  S.  E.,  common  but  irregular  W.  V, 

Nest.,  of  coarse  grasses,  leaves,  rootlets,  etc.,  with  an  inner  wall  of  mud  and 
lining  of  fine  grasses,  most  frequently  in  fruit  or  shade  trees,  five  to  thirty  feet 
up.  Eggs.^  three  to  five,  greenish  blue,  very  rarely  with  brownish  markings, 
1-14  X  -80. 

While  the  few  Robins  that  have  the  courage  to  winter  with  us  are 
seeking  protection  from  chilling  winds  in  the  depths- of  friendly  ever- 
greens, their  comrades  who  extended  their  journey  to  the  south  are 
holding  carnival  under  sunny  skies.  In  Florida,  during  the  winter, 
Robins  may  be  found  in  enormous  flocks,  feeding  on  the  berries  of  the 
China  tree,  holly,  and  mistletoe.  Occasionally  they  give  voice  to  a 
half-suppressed  chorus,  as  though  rehearsing  for  the  approaching 
season  of  song. 

Robins  migrate  in  flocks,  and  the  arrival  of  the  advance  guard 
makes  the  dreariest  March  day  seem  bright.  It  is  a  question  whether 
these  pioneers  are  summer  residents  or  transients  en  route  to  a  more 
northern  summer  home,  but  'in  my  experience  they  make  the  sunny 
side  of  some  woods  their  headquarters  and  remain  there  until  paired. 
They  are  then  in  full  song,  and  we  see  them  in  their  accustomed  haunts 
about  our  lawns  and  orchards. 

Toward  the  last  of  June  the  young  of  the  first  brood,  with  the  old 
maleSi  resort  in  numbers  nightly  to  a  roosting  place.  These  roosts  are 
generally  in  deciduous  second  growths,  usually  in  low,  but  sometimes 
on  high  ground.  The  females  are  now  occupied  with  the  cares  of  a 
second  family,  and  the  males  are  said  to  return  each  day  to  assist  them 
in  their  duties.* 

*  See  studies  of  Robins'  roosts,  by  William  Brewster,  in  Auk,  x,  1890,  pp. 
360-373,  and  Bradford  Torrey  in  The  Foot-path  Way,  1892,  pp.  153-175. 
37 


402  THRUSHES,  BLUEBIRDS,  ETC. 

Early  in  September,  when  the  nesting  season  is  over,  Robins  gather 
in  large  flocks,  and  from  this  time  until  their  departure  for  the  south 
roam  about  the  country  in  search  of  food,  taking  in  turn  wild  cher- 
ries, dogwood  and  cedar  berries. 

The  songs  and  call-notes  of  the  Robin,  while  well  known  to  every 
one,  are  in  reality  understood  by  no  one,  and  ofifer  excellent  subjects 
for  the  student  of  bird  language.  Its  notes  express  interrogation,  sus- 
picion, alarm,  caution,  and  it  signals  to  its  companions  to  take  wing; 
indeed,  few  of  our  birds  have  a  more  extended  vocabulary. 

The  Varied  Thrush  {76S.  HesperoeicMa  n(Bvia)^  a  species  of  western 
North  America,  has  been  recorded  from  Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  and 
New  Jersey. 

765.  Saxicola  oenanthe  (Z*7m.).  Wheatear;  Stone-chat.  Ad.  $. 
— Upper  parts  light  gray  ;  forehead  and  upper  tail-coverts  white  ;  cheeks  and 
wings  black ;  the  basal  two  thirds  of  the  tail  white,  the  end  black ;  under 
parts  whitish,  more  or  less  washed  with  buify.  Ad.  9  . — Similar,  but  duller, 
the  black  grayer,  the  white  parts  more  buffy.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. —  Upper 
parts  cinnamon-brown,  wings  edged  with  lighter;  upper  tail-coverts  and  base 
of  the  tail  white  ;  end  of  the  tail  black,  tipped  with  buffy  ;  under  parts  ochra- 
ceous-buff-.    L.,  6-25 ;  W.,  4-00  ;  T.,  2-20  ;  B.,  -50. 

Eange. — "  Europe,  North  Africa,  Asia,  Alaska,  Greenland,  and  Labrador, 
straggling  south  to  Nova  Scotia,  Maine,  Long  Island,  and  the  Bermudas" 
(A.  O.  U.). 

Nest^  of  moss  and  grasses,  usually  in  crevices  among  rocks,  ^ggs.,  four  to 
seven,  bluish  white,  -81  x  -59. 

This  European  species  is  a  common  summer  resident  in  Greenland. 
It  has  been  found  nesting  in  Labrador,  and  there  is  evidence  of  its 
having  bred  at  Godbout,  Province  of  Quebec  (see  Merriam,  Auk,  ii, 
1885,  p.  305 ;  Comeau,  ibid.,  vii,  1890,  p.  294).  South  of  these  points 
it  is  of  accidental  occurrence. 

Mr.  Saunders  writes :  "  From  early  spring  onward  the  Wheatear 
is  to  be  seen,  jerking  its  white  tail  as  it  flits  along,  uttering  its  sharp 
chack,  chack,  on  open  downs,  warrens,  and  the  poorer  land ;  ascending 
the  mountains  almost  to  the  highest  summits.  .  .  . 

"  The  song  of  the  male  is  rather  pretty,  and  the  bird  also  displays 
considerable  powers  of  imitating  other  species." 

766.  Sialia  sialis  {Linn.).  Bluebird.  (See  Figs,  2  and  59,  a.) 
Ad.  3.— Upper  parts,  wings,  and  tail  bright  blue,  tipped  with  rusty  in  the 
fall ;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  dull  cinnamon-rufous  ;  belly  white.  Ad.  9  .— 
Upper  parts  with  a  grayish  tinge  ;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  paler.  Young  in 
nedling  pltimage. — Back  spotted  with  wliitish  ;  the  breast  feathers  margined 
with  fuscous.     L.,  7-01  ;  W.,  3-93;  T.,  2-58;  B.,  -47. 

Range. —  United  States;   breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Manitoba  and 


THRUSHES,   BLUEBIRDS,  ETC.  403 

NoTa  Scotia ;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  and  southern  New  York  south- 
ward. 

Washington,  common  P.  R.  Sing  Sing,  common  P.  K.  Cambridge,  com- 
mon S.  E.,  Mch,  6  to  Nov.  1 ;  more  numerous  during  migrations,  in  Mch.  and 
Nov. 

JVes^,  of  grasses,  in  hollow  trees  or  bird-houses,  ^ffffs,  four  to  six,  bluish 
white,  sometimes  plain  white,  -85  x  -65. 

A  bird  so  familiar  as  the  Bluebird  needs  no  introduction ;  in  fact, 
he  seems  so  at  home  in  our  orchards  and  gardens  or  about  our  dwell- 
ings that  one  wonders  what  he  did  for  a  home  before  the  white  man 
came. 

In  the  winter,  it  is  true,  Bluebirds  are  greater  rovers,  and  one  may 
see  them  in  the  Southern  States  whirling  through  the  woods  in  great 
flocks  or  feeding  on  the  berries  of  the  mistletoe.  But  the  warmth  of 
returning  spring  reminds  them  of  cozy  bird-boxes  or  hospitable  pear 
or  apple  trees,  and  soon  we  see  them  inspecting  last  summer's  home, 
evidently  planning  repairs  and  alterations. 

The  Bluebird's  disposition  is  typical  of  all  that  is  sweet  and  amia- 
ble. His  song  breathes  of  love ;  even  his  fall  call-note — tur-wee,  tur- 
wee — is  soft  and  gentle.  So  associated  is  his  voice  with  the  birth  and 
death  of  the  seasons  that  to  me  his  song  is  freighted  with  all  the  glad- 
ness of  springtime,  while  the  sad  notes  of  the  birds  passing  southward 
tell  me  more  plainly  than  the  falling  leaves  that  the  year  is  dying. 


APPENDIX  I. 

A  Field  Key  to  our 
Commoner  Eastern  Land  Birds. 

Acting  upon  a  suggestion,  I  have  prepared  as  an  Appendix  to  the 
Handbook  the  following  field  key  to  those  birds  which,  either  because 
of  their  abundance  or  conspicuous  colors,  most  frequently  attract  our 
attention.  With  the  object  of  making  it  as  brief,  and  consequently  as 
simple,  as  possible,  I  have  omitted  species  which  can  be  referred  to 
their  respective  families  without  difficulty — for  example,  Hawks,  Owls, 
Woodpeckers,  and  Swallows.  It  is  designed  simply  as  an  aid  to  the 
first  steps  of  the  beginner,  who  will  soon  graduate  from  it  to  the  more 
detailed  keys  in  the  body  of  the  book.  Like  the  field  keys  to  Finches 
and  Sparrows,  and  Warblers,  after  which  it  is  modeled,  it  is  based 
largely  upon  adult  males.  Its  use  will  be  found  fully  explained  on 
page  34. 

First  Group. — "With  yellow  or  orange  in  the  plumage. 
Second  Group. — With  red  in  the  plumage. 
Third  Group. — With  blue  in  the  plumage. 

Fourth  Group. — Plumage  conspicuously  black,  or  black  and  white. 
Fifth  Group. — Without  either  yellow,  orange,  red,  or  blue  in  the  plumage; 
not  conspicuously  black,  or  black  and  white. 

First  Group.— With  yelloTT  or  orange  in  the  plumage. 

I.  Throat  yellow. 
A.  Throat  and  breast  pure  yellow,  ivithout  streaks  or  spots. 

a.  Length  5-00 ;  cap,  wings,  and  tail  black ;  back  yellow ;  song  canary- 
like, sometimes  uttered  on  the  wing  ;  flight  undulating,  frequently 
accompanied  by  the  notes  chic-o-ree.^  per-chic-o-ree. 

529.  Am.  Goldfinch. 

b.  Length  5'50;  lower  belly  and  wing-bars  white;  back  olive-green; 
frequents  the  upper  branches,  generally  in  woodland ;  actions  delib- 
erate; song  loud  and  musical,  uttered  slowly,  often  with  pauses  :  "  See 
me  ?    I'm  here  ;  where  are  you  ?  "    .     .  628.  Yellow-thkoated  Vireo. 

c.  Length  5-25 ;  cheeks  and  forehead  black  bordered  by  ashy  ;  upper 
parts  olive-green;  no  wing-bars;  haunts  thickets  and  undergrowth; 
movements  nervous  and  active  ;  call-note,  pit  or  chach  ;  song,  a  vigor- 
ous, rapid  witch-e-wee-o^  witch-e-wee-o,  witch-e-wee-o. 

68L  Maryland  Yellow-throat. 
404  . 


APPENDIX  I.  405 

d.  Length  7'25 ;  upper  parts  olive-green ;  no  wing-bars ;  a  white  line 
before  the  eye ;  haunts  thickets  and  undergrowth ;  song,  a  striking 
mixture  of  whistles,  chucks,  and  catvs^  sometimes  uttered  on  the  wing. 

683.  Yellow-breasted  Chat. 

B.  Under  parts  streaked  with  rufous-brown ;  length  5*00 ;  general  appear 
ance  of  a  yellow  bird;   haunts  shrubbery  of  lawns,  orchards,  second 
growths,  and  particularly  willows  near  water ;  song,  rather  loud,  wee.,  che'e- 
chee-chee^  cher-wee^  or  chee-ch'ee-chee-cliee^  way-o  .  652.  Yellow   Warbler. 

C.  Breast  yellow,  with  a  conspicuous  black  crescent ;  length  10-00  ;  haunts 
fields  and  meadows,  largely  terrestrial ;  flight  quail-like,  outer  white  tail- 
feathers  showing  when  on  the  wing ;  song,  a  loud,  musical  whistle. 

501.  Meadowlark. 

II.  Throat  white. 

A.  With  yellow  on  the  sides. 

a.  Length  5-50 ;  rump  yellow ;  breast  streaked  or  spotted  with  black ; 
tail-feathers  marked  with  white ;  note,  a  characteristic  tcMp  ;  Sept.  to 
May,  usually  rare  or  local  in  winter  ....     655.  Myrtle  Warbler. 

6.  Length  5*00 ;  no  streaks  on  under  parts  or  white  in  the  tail ;  yellow 
extending  along  the  whole  sides;  back  olive-green,  iris  white;  haunts 
thickets  ;  call,  an  emphatic  "  Who  are  you,  eh  ? " 

631.  White-eyed  Vireo. 

c.  Length  5-25 ;  tail  and  wings  banded  with  yellow,  showing  conspicu- 
ously in  flight ;  haunts  woodland ;  movements  active,  much  in  the 
air,  tail  frequently  spread 687.  Redstart. 

B.  No  yellow  on  sides. 

a.  Length  6*75 ;  a  yellow  line  from  the  bill  to  the  eye ;  crown  black,  with 
a  white  stripe  through  its  center;  haunts  in  and  about  thickets  and 
bushy  woodlands  ;  song,  a  high,  clear,  musical  whistle  ;  call-note,  chinlc. 

558.  White-throated  Sparrow. 

J.  Length  4*00 ;  a  yellow  or  yellow  and  orange  crown-patch,  bordered 
by  black;  flits  restlessly  about  outer  limbs  of  trees  and  bushes;  note, 
afine^^-i*/  Oct.  to  Apl 748.  Golden-crowned  Kinglet. 

III.  Throat  vinaceous ;  length  12-00;  a  black  breast-patch;  belly  white, 
spotted  with  black ;  rump  white,  showing  conspicuously  in  flight ;  linings 
of  wings  yellow ;  call-note,  a  loud  ^(?e-yer 412.  Flicker. 

IV.  Throat  and  head  black;  length  7-50;  breast,  belly,  and  lower  back  deep 
orange ;  an  active  inhabitant  of  fruit  and  shade  trees ;  song,  a  loud,  ringing 
whistle 507.  Baltimore  Oriole. 

V.  Throat  and  upper  breast  ashy;  length  9-00;  crested;  belly  yellow,  taih 
feathers  largely  pale  rufous;  haunts  upper  branches  in  woodland;  note,  a 
loud  questioning,  or  grating  whistle    ....     452.  Crested  Flycatcher. 

VI.  Grayish  brown  ;  length  7-00 ;  crested  ;  tip  of  tail  yellow. 

619.  Waxwing. 

Second  Group.-  With  red  in  the  plumage. 

].  With  red  on  the  under  parts. 
A.  Throat  red. 
a.  Length  7-00;  wings  and  tail  black;  rest  of  plumage  bright  scarlet; 
call-note,  chip-cliirr 608.  Scarlet  Tanager. 


406  APPENDIX  I. 

b.  Length  6-00 ;  dull,  pinkish  red,  wings  and  tail  brownish  ;  frequently 
seen  feeding  on  buds  or  blossoms ;  call-note,  a  sharp  chink,  often  ut- 
tered during  flight ;  song,  a  sweet,  flowing  warble. 

517.  Purple  Finch. 

c.  Length  6-00 ;  dull  red  or  green  tinged  with  red ;  mandibles  crossed ; 
generally  seen  in  flocks  feeding  on  pine  cones    .     521.  Am.  Crossbill! 

d.  Length  500;  a  red  crown-cap ;  back  streaked  black  and  brown ;  breast 
rosy  ;  feeds  on  seeds  or  catkins ;  Nov.  to  Mch.    ...      528    Redpoll 

£.  Throat  black. 

a.  Length  800 ;  breast  rose-red,  rest  of  plumage  black  and  white ;  song 
loud  and  musical ;  call-note,  peeh  .     .     595.  Eose-breasted  Grosbeak. 

b.  Length  8-00 ;  a  conspicuous  crest ;  region  about  the  base  of  the  bill 
black  ;  rest  of  the  plumage  and  bill  red  ;  song,  a  clear  whistle. 

593.  Cardinal. 

c.  Length  5-50  ;  wings  and  tail  banded  with  orange-red,  showing  con- 
spicuously in  flight;  movements  active;  much  in  the  air;  tail  fre- 
quently spread ;  haunts  woodland 687.  Redstart. 

IL  No  red  on  the  under  parts. 

A.  Length  9-00  ;  black ;  shoulders  red  ;  haunts  marshes  ;  migrates  in  flocks. 

498.  Eed-winged  Blackbird. 
£.  Length  5-25 ;  crown-cap  red ;  chin  black ;  rest  of  under  parts  streaked 
with  blackish  ;  feeds  on  seeds  and  catkins  ;  Nov.  to  Mch. 

528.  Redpoll  (Im.). 
O.  Length  4-00 ;  under  parts  whitish ;  back  olive-green ;  a  ruby  crown- 
patch  ;  eye-ring  white ;  movements  restless,  wings  flitted  nervously ;  call- 
note,  cack  ;  song  remarkably  loud  and  musical ;  Sept.  and  Oct. ;  Apl.  and 
May 749.  Eubv-crowned  Kinglet. 

Third  Group.— With  blue  in  the  plumage. 

L  Length  11-50;  a  conspicuous  crest;  upper  parts  dull  blue;  under  parts 

whitish;  a  black  patch  on  the  breast 477.  Blue  Jay. 

II.  Length  7'00  ;  upper  parts  bright  blue ;  under  parts  cinnamon-rufous. 

766.  Bluebird, 
III.  Length  5'50  ;  entire  plumage  indigo-blue     .     .     .     598.  Indigo  Bunting. 

Fourth  Group.— Plumage  conspicuously  black,  or  black 

and  Tvhite. 

I.  Black  and  white  birds. 
A.  Throat  black. 
a.  Length  over  6-00. 
ai.  Entire   under  parts  black ;  nape  buff'y ;  rump  white ;  a  musical 
dweller  of  fields  and  meadows ;  frequently  sings  on  the  wing. 

494.  Bobolink. 

a^.  Breast  rose-red;  rest  of  the  plumage  black  and  white;  song  rapid, 

loud,  and  musical;  call-note,  peek;  a  tree  dweller  in  rather  open 

woodland 595.  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak. 

a^.  Sides  rufous ;  rest  of  the  plumage  black   and   white ;  call-note, 
chewink  or  towhee  ;  inhabits  the  undergrowth  .     .    .    587.  Towhee. 


APPENDIX  I.  407 

6.  Length  under  6-00. 

bK  Crown  black :  cheeks  white ;  back  ashy  ;  unstreaked  ;  call,  chick-a- 
dee,  or  a  musical,  double-noted  whistle  .     .     .     .     .     735.  Chickadee. 
5>.  Conspicuously  streaked  with  black  and  white ;  a  tree  creeper. 

636.  Black  and  white  Warbler. 
B.  Under  parts  white  or  whitish. 

a.  Length  8  00 ;  upper  parts  grayish  slate-color ;  tail  tipped  with  white ; 
a  bird  of  the  air,  catching  its  insect  food  on  the  wing,  and  occasionally 
sallying  forth  from  its  exposed  perch  in  pursuit  of  a  passing  Crow ; 
note,  an  unmusical,  steely  chatter 444.  Kingbird. 

b.  Length  5'75  ;  crown  black ;  back  bluish  gray ;  a  tree  creeper ;  call-note, 
yanh,  yank 727.   White-breasted  Nuthatch. 

c.  Length  6"50 ;  upper  parts  washed  with  rusty  ;  generally  seen  in  flocks ; 
terrestrial ;  Nov.  to  Mch 534.  Snowflake. 

II.  No  white  in  the  plumage. 

A.  Length  19-00 ;  jet  black 48S  Am.  Crow. 

B.  Length  12*00;  black  with  metallic  reflections;  iris  yellowish;  migrates 
in  flocks ;  nests  usually  in  colonies  in  coniferous  trees ;  voice  cracked  and 
reedy ;  tail  "  keeled  "  in  short  flights ;  a  walker. 

511.  Purple  Crackle.    5116.  Bronzed  Crackle. 
G.  Length  9-50 ;  shoulders  red ;  haunts  marshes  ;  call,  kong-quer-r'ee. 

498.  Eed-winged  Blackbird 

D.  Length  7*50  ;  head  and  neck   cofi'ee-brown ;  frequently  seen  on  the 

ground  near  cattle 495.  Cowbird. 

Fifth  Group.— Without  either  yellow,  orange,  red,  or  blue 
in  the  plumage;  not  conspicuously  black,  or  black 
and  white. 

I.  Under  parts  all  one  color,  without  streaks  or  spots. 
1.  Back  without  streaks  or  spots. 
A.  Under  parts  white  or  whitish  ;  length  under  *I'hO. 
a.  Back  olive,  olive-green,  or  slaty  fuscous. 
a>.  No  white  line  over  the  eye ;  flycatchers,  capturing  their  prey  on 
the  wing  and  returning  to  their  perch,  where  they  sit  quietly  until 
making  a  fresh  sally. 

a\  Crown  blackish;  frequently  found  nesting  under  bridges  or 
about  buildings ;  tail  wagged  nervously ;  note,  pewit-phoibe. 

456.  Phcebe. 
a'.  Wing-bars  whitish  ;  haunts  orchards,  lawns,  and  open  woodland : 

note,  chehec^  chebec 467.  Least  Flycatcher. 

«*.  Haunts  woodlands ;  generally  frequents  the  upper  branches ; 

note,  a  plaintive  pee-a-wee 461.  Wood  Pewee. 

6>.  A  white  line  over  the  eye,  or  wing-bars  white ;  gleaners ;  patiently 

exploring  the  foliage  for  food  or  flitting  about  the  outer  branches. 

5».  White  line  over  the  eye  bordered  by  a  narrow  black  one ;  cap 

gray ;  iris  red  ;  song,  a  rambling  recitative :  "  You  see  it — you 

know  it — do  you  hear  me  ?  "  etc.     .    .     .     624.  Eed-eyed  Vireo. 

Ifi.  White  line  over  the  eye  not  bordered  by  bl^ck ;  prefers  the 


408  APPENDIX  I. 

upper  branches  of  rows  of  elms  and  other  shade  trees ;  song,  a 
rich,  unbroken  warble  with  an  alto  undertone. 

627.  Wakbling  Vireo. 

b*.  No  white   line  over  the  eye;   eye-ring  and  wing-bars  white* 

length   4-00 ;    a  tiny,  unsuspicious    bird ;   flits   about  the  outer 

branches  of  trees  and  shrubs  ;  wings  twitched  nervously  ;  note, 

each ;  song,  a  remarkably  loud,  musical  whistle. 

749.    EUBY-CROWNED  KiNGLET, 

b.  Back  gray  or  bluish  gray. 

Ji.  Crown  black  ;  cheeks  white ;  a  tree  creeper ;  note,  yanh^  yank. 

727.  White-breasted  Nuthatch. 

i*.  A  gray,  crested  bird ;  forehead  black ;  no  white  in  the  tail ;  note, 

a  whistled  peto.,  peto,  or  hoarse  de-de-de-de   .    .    731.  Tufted  Tit. 

c.  Back  cinnamon- brown  ;  length  4-75  ;  a  nervous,  restless,  excitable 
bird  ;  tail  carried  erect ;  song  sweet,  rapid  and  rippling,  delivered 
with  abandon 721.  House  Wren. 

B.  Under  parts  white  or  whitish :  length  over  7'50. 

a.  Upper  parts  grayish  slate-color;  a  white  band  at  the  end  of  the 
tail ;  a  concealed  orange-red  crest-;  a  bird  of  the  air,  catching  its 
insect  food  on  the  wing,  and  occasionally  sallying  forth  from  its 
exposed  perch  in  pursuit  of  a  passing  Crow;  note,  an  unmusical, 
steely  chatter 444.  Kingbird. 

h.  Length  12"00 ;  slim,  brownish  birds  with  long  tails ;  flight  short  and 
noiseless;  perch  in  a  tree,  not  in  an  exposed  position;  note,  tut- 
tut^  clucTc-cluch^  and  cow-cow. 

387.  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo.     388.  Black-billed  Cuckoo. 

C.  Under  parts  not  white. 

a.  Slate-color ;  cap  and  tail  black ;  inhabits  the  lower  growth ;  call-note, 
nasal ;  song  highly  musical  and  varied  ;  length  8*50   .   704.  Catbird. 

b.  Grayish  brown  ;  conspicuously  crested  ;  a  black  line  through  the 
eye;  tail  tipped  with  yellow;  generally  seen  in  small  flocks;  note 
thin  and  weak  ;  length  7'00 619.  Cedar  Wax  wing. 

c.  Under  parts  cream-bufl";  a  conspicuous  whitish  line  over  the  eye; 
upper  parts  rufous-brown ;  movements  active ;  tail  carried  erect ; 
haunts  lower  growth  ;  notes  loud  and  striking ;  length  5*50. 

718.  Carolina  Wren. 
2.  Back  streaked. 
A.  Crown  rufous  or  chestnut  without  streaks. 
a.  Length  5"25 ;  bill  black  ;  a  whitish  line  over  the  eye ;  a  familiar  bird 
of  lawns  and  door-yards ;  song,  a  monotonous  cMppy-cJiippy-cMppy. 

560.  Chipping  Sparrow, 
h.  Length  5'50 ;  bill  reddish   brown.,   back   rufous,  or  rufous-brown ; 
wing-bars  and  eye-ring  whitish ;  haunts  dry,  bushy  fields  and  pas- 
tures ;  song,  a  musical,  plaintive  cher-wee.,  cher-wee.,  cher-wee.,  cheeo^ 

dee-dee-dee-dee 563.  Field  Sparrow. 

c.  Length  5'50  ;  forehead  black;  crown  and  wings  chestnut-rufous; 
flanks  pale  grayish  brown ;  haunts  marshes ;  song,  a  rapidly  repeated 
weet-weet-weet^  etc 584.  Swamp  Sparrow. 


APPENDIX  I.  409 

B.  Crown  not  rufous  or  chestnut. 

a.  Length  6*75 ;  crown,  blackish  with  a  central  whitish  stripe ;  throat 
white ;  breast  gray ;  a  yellow  spot  before  the  eye ;  haunts  in  and 
about  thickets  and  bushy  woodlands ;  song,  a  high,  clear,  musical 
whistle  ;  call-note,  chink  ....    558.  White-throated  Sparrow. 

b.  Length  5'50 ;  crown  finely  streaked ;  a  tree  climber,  winding  patiently 
up  tree  trunks  in  search  of  food;  tail-feathers  pointed. 

726.  Brown  Creeper. 

c.  Length  5-50;  bill  slender;  a  white  line  over  the  eye;  tail  carried 
erect ;  haunts  reedy  marshes ;  call-note  scolding ;  song  rippling. 

725.  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren. 
IL  Under  parts  white  or  whitish,  streaked  or  spotted. 

1.  Back  streaked. 

A.  Crown  streaked  ;  under  parts  conspicuously  streaked. 

a.  Outer  tail-feathers  white,  showing  conspicuously  when  the  bird  flies ; 
length  6-00 ;  haunts  dry  fields  and  roadsides ;  song  loud  and  musical. 

540.  Vesper  Sparrow. 

h.  Outer  tail-feathers  not  white. 

Ji.  Length  6*00 ;   plumage  with  a  rufous-brown  cast ;  spots  on  the 

breast  tending  to  form  one  large  spot  in  its  center ;  haunts  on  or 

near  the  ground,  generally  in  the  vicinity  of  bushes ;  call-note,  a 

characteristic  cTia  ;  song  musical 581.  Song  Sparrow. 

^'.  Length  6*00 ;  no  rufous  in  the  plumage  ;  spots  on  the  under  parts 
evenly  distributed  ;  frequently  seen  feeding  on  buds  or  blossoms  ; 
call-note,  a  sharp  chink^  often  uttered  during  flight;  song,  a  sweet, 
flowing  warble 517.  Purple  Finch  (Im.). 

B.  Crown  not  streaked,  rufous-brown ;  under  parts  whitish  with  an  in- 
distinct blackish  spot  in  the  center  of  the  breast ;  Oct.  to  Apl. 

559.  Tree  Sparrow. 

2.  Back  not  streaked. 

A.  Upper  parts  rufous,  olive-brown,  or  cinnamon-brown. 
a.  Bill  slender  and  thrushlike  ;  breast  spotted  with  blackish. 

a>.  Length  11"00;  tail  5*00;  wing-bars  white  ;  upper  parts,  wings,  and 
tail  uniform  rufous ;  haunts  undergrowth ;  sings  from  an  exposed 
and  generally  elevated  position ;  sonar  loud,  striking,  and  continuous. 

705.  Brown  Thrasher. 
ft».  Length  under  9-00 ;  tail  under  3*00 ;  no  wing-bars. 

J*.  Breast  and  sides  heavily  marked  with  large,  round.,  black  spots  ; 
head  and  upper  back  hrighter  than  lower  back  and  tail ;  call-note, 

a  sharp  pit  or  liquid  quirt 755.  Wood  Thrush. 

5'.  Breast  with  wedge-shaped  black  spots ;  sides  unspotted.,  washed 
with  brownish  ashy  ;  tail  rufous,  brighter  than  back  ;  call-note,  a 

low  chuck 759J.  Hermit  Thrush. 

H  Upper  breast  lightly  spotted  with  small,  wedge-shaped,  black- 
ish spots ;  tail  the  same  color  as  the  back ;  sides  white ;  call- 
note,  a  clearly  whistled  wheeu  ....    756.  Wilson's  Thrush. 
h.  Bill    short    and    stout ;    breast    and    sides    heavily  spotted    with 
rufous ;    length  7*00 ;  haunts  on  or  near  the  ground,  generally  in 


410  APPENDIX  I. 

or    about    shrubbery ;    call  -  note,  tseep ;   song    loud,  ringing,  and 

musical 585.  Fox  Sparrow. 

B.  Back  olive-green ;  center  of  crown  pale  rufous^  bordered  by  black ; 
length  6*00 ;  haunts  on  or  near  the  ground  in  woodland  ;  a  walker  ;  song, 
a  ringing  teacher,  teacher^  teacher,  TEACHEE,  TEA  CHER. 

674.  Oven-bird. 
m.  Throat  and  upper  breast  black  or  slate-color,  very  different  from  the 
white  or  chestnut  belly. 

A.  Throat  black. 

a.  Belly  and  rump  chestnut;  head,  wings,  and  tail  black;  haunts 
orchards,  shade  trees,  etc. ;  song  highly  musical. 

506,  Orchard  Oriole. 

b.  Belly  white ;  sides  rufous  ;   tail  black  and  white ;   haunts  under- 
growths ;  call-note,  chewinh  or  towhee 587.  Towhee. 

B.  Throat  slate-color. 

a.  Back  and  wings  slate-color;   outer  tail-feathers  and  belly  white; 
haunts   generally  on  or  near  the  ground   about  shrubbery;   Oct. 

to  Apl 667.  JrNco. 

IV.  Throat  streaked  with  black  and  white ;  rest  of  under  parts  rufous ;  upper 
parts  grayish  slate-color ;  length  10-00 761.  Kobin. 


APPENDIX  II. 

Since  the  publication,  in  May,  1895,  of  the  first  edition  of  the 
Handbook,  three  additional  species  have  been  recorded  from  eastern 
North  America,  six  new  races  have  been  described,  and  seventeen 
changes  have  been  made  in  nomenclature.  These  additions  and 
emendations  are  presented  below,  each  one  being  preceded  by  its 
number  in  the  Check-List  of  North  American  Birds,  published  by 
the  American  Ornithologists'  Union,  thus  showing  its  proper  place 
in  the  body  of  the  Handbook,  where  the  same  system  of  enumeration 
has  been  adopted. 

89.  Change  Puffinus  major  Faber  to  Puffinus  gravis  ( 0'Beilly\ 
the  latter  name  having  four  years'  priority.    (See  Salvin,  Cat.  Birds,  Brit.  Mus., 

XXV,  1896,  p.  373.) 

102.  Add  Daption  capensis  {Linn.).  Pintado  Petrel. — A  species 
of  the  oceans  of  the  southern  hemisphere  which  has  been  recorded  from  Casco 
Bay,  Maine.  (See  Coues  apud  Purdie,  New  England  Bird  Life,  ii,  p.  386.) 
Omitted  from  previous  editions  in  error. 

131.1.'  Add  Mergus  albellus  Linn.  Smew. — An  Old  World  species 
which  has  been  once  recorded  from  "  northern  North  America."  (Salvadori, 
Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.,  xxvii,  1896,  pp.  467,  468.) 

141.1.  Add  Casarca  casarca  {Linn.).    Ruddy  Sheldrake. — An 

Old  World  species  which  has  been  once  recorded  from  Greenland.  (See 
Allen  apud  Schalow,  The  Auk,  xiii,  1896,  p.  243.) 

151.  Change  Glaucionetta  clangula  americana  {Bonap.)  to 

Clangula  clangula  americana  Bonap..,  the  generic  name  G-laucio- 
netta  having  been  wrongly  applied.  (See  Eighth  Supplement  A.  O.  0.  Check- 
List  N.  A.  Birds,  The  Auk,  xiv,  1897,  p.  125.) 

152.  Change   Glaucionetta    islandica   {Gmel.)    to   Clausula 

islandica  Gmel..,  for  the  reason  given  under  the  preceding  species. 

154.  Change  Clangula  hyemalis  Linn,  to  Harelda  hyemalis 

{Linn.).,  the  generic  name  Clangula  having  been  wrongly  applied.  (See 
Eighth  Supplement  to  A.  O.  U.  Check-List  N.  A.  Birds,  The  Auk,  xiv,  1897, 
p.  125.) 

411 


412  APPENDIX  II. 

167.  Change  Erismatura  rubida  (  Wils.)  to  Erismatura  ja- 

maicensis  {Gmel.)^  the  latter  name  having  twenty-six  years'  priority.  (See 
Salvadori,  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.,  xxvii,  1896,  p.  445.) 

171.1.  Add  Anser  fabalis  {Lath.).  Bean  Goose.— An  Old  World 
species  which  has  been  once  recorded  from  Greenland.  (See  Allen  apud 
Schalow,  The  Auk,  xiii,  1896,  p.  244.) 

224.  Change  Phalaropus  tricolor  (  Vieill.)  to  Steganopus  tri- 
color VieilL,  the  subgenus  Steganopus  having  been  accorded  generic  rank. 
(See  Eighth  Supplement  A.  0.  U.  Check-List  N.  A.  Birds,  The  Auk,  xiv, 
1897,  p.  126.) 

270.  Change  Charadrius  squatarola  {Linn.)  to  Squatarola 

squatarola  {Linn.).,  the  subgenus  iSquatarola  having  been  accorded  generic 
rank.  (See  Eighth  Supplement  A.  O.  U.  Check-List  N.  A.  Birds,  The  Auk, 
xiv,  1897,  p.  126.) 

322.  Change    Geotrygon    martinica    {Linn.)    to    Geotrygon 

chrysia  Bonap.  The  former  inhabits  the  Lesser  Antilles,  the  latter  Cuba, 
Haiti,  the  Bahamas,  and  Florida  Keys.  (See  Salvadori,  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus., 
xxi,  1893,  pp.  570-572.) 

394c.  Add  Dryobates  pubescens  medianus  (iSwams.).— The 
Downy  Woodpeckers  of  eastern  North  America  heve  been  separated  by  Mr. 
H.  C.  Oberholser  into  two  races :  Dryobates  pnbesoens,  the  Southern  Downy 
Woodpecker,  inhabiting  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  and  DryO" 
bates  pubescens  medianus,  the  Downy  Woodpecker,  inhabiting  the 
region  from  North  Carolina  northward.  The  former  is  described  as  similar 
to  D.  P.  medianus.,  "  but  smaller,  the  lower  parts  more  brownish,  the  white 
markings  of  wings  and  tail  averaging  of  less  extent."  (See  Oberholser,  Proc. 
U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  xviii,  p.  547 ;  also  Brewster,  The  Auk,  xiv,  1897,  p.  80.) 

466a.  Change  Empidonax  traillii  {Aud.),  Traill's  Flycatcher, 
to  Empidonax  traillii  alnonun  {Brewst.),  Alder  Flycatcher. — The 
change  proposed  by  Mr.  Brewster,  and  mentioned  in  a  note  under  this  species, 
has  been  adopted  by  the  A.  O.  U.  Committee. 

498b.  Change  Agelaius  phceniceus  bryanti  Ridgw..,  Bahaman 
Eedwing,  to  Agelaius  phceniceus  fioridanus  Maynard,  Florida  Eed- 
wiNG,  the  Florida  bird  having  proved  separable  from  the  former,  inhabiting 
the  Bahamas.     (See  Maynard,  Birds  E.  N.  A.,  part  40,  1896,  p.  689.) 

550c.  Add  Ammodramus  maritimus  macgillivrayi  Aud. 
Louisiana  Seaside  Finch. — The  dark  Seaside  Finch  of  the  west  Gulf  coast 
(Louisiana,  southward  in  winter  to  Corpus  Christi,  Texas)  has  been  separated 
by  Mr.  Ridgway  under  the  above  name.  It  is  described  as  "  similar  to  A.  m. 
peninsulcB.,  but  still  darker,  with  dusky  streaks  on  back,  broader  and  blacker, 
and  margined  externally  (except  along  median  line)  with  broad  streaks  of 
pale  ash  gray  or  grayish  white :  pileum  and  hind  neck  more  strongly  tinged 
with  brown ;  post-auricular  space  and  chest  strongly  tinged  with  buff  (some- 


APPENDIX  II.  413 

times  wholly  deep  buff),  the  latter  distinctly  streaked  with  black  or  grayish 
dusky."    (Ridgway,  Manual  N.  A.  Birds,  2  ed.,  p.  602.) 

667b.  Change  Junco  hyemalis  shufeldti  Coale^  Shufeldt's 
JuNco,  to  Junco  hyemalis  connectens  Coues^  Hybrid  Junco,  the 
name  shufeldti  being  antedated  by  that  of  connectens. 

593d.  Add  Cardinalis  cardinalis  floridanus  Eidgw.  Florida 
Cardinal. — The  Cardinal  of  Florida  has  been  described,  under  the  above 
name,  by  Mr.  Eidgway,  as  "  smaller  and  darker  colored  than  C.  cardinalis  \ 
adult  male  with  the  terminal  margins  of  feathers  of  back,  etc.,  olivaceous 
instead  of  gray ;  adult  female  with  more  red  in  crest  and  on  tail,  the  chest 
frequently  much  tinged  or  intermixed  with  red."  (Manual  N.  A.  Birds, 
2  ed.,  p.  606.) 

595.  Change  Habia  ludoviciana  (Linn.)  to  Zamelodia  ludo- 

viciana  {Linn.),  the  generic  name  Habia  having  been  wrongly  applied. 
(See  Coues,  The  Auk,  xiv,  1897,  p.  39.) 

596.  Change  Habia  melanocephala  (Swains.)  to  Zamelodia 

melanocephala  (Sivains.)  for  reasons  given  under  the  preceding  species. 

645.  Change  Helminthophila  ruficapilla  ( Wils.)  to  Helmin- 

thophila  rubricapilla   ( Wils.),  the   former  name    being  preoccupied. 
(See  Faxon,  The  Auk,  xiii,  1896,  p.  264.) 

648a.  Add  Compsothlypis  americana  usnese  Brewster. 
Northern  Parula  Warbler.— The  Parula  Warbler,  breeding  from  Mary- 
land and  southern  Illinois  northward,  has  been  described  under  the  above 
name  by  Mr.  Brewster  as  similar  to  the  southern  C.  americana  but  "  averag- 
ing slightly  larger  but  with  a  shorter  bill.  Adult  male  with  less  yellow  on 
the  under  parts  and  more  black  or  blackish  on  the  lores  and  malar  region ; 
the  dark  collar  across  the  jugulum  black  or  blackish,  broad  and  conspicuous ; 
the  chest  mottled  or  spotted  with  rich  brownish  chestnut."  (Brewster,  The 
Auk,  xiii,  1896,  p.  45.) 

654a.  x\dd  Dendroica  cserulescens  cairnsi  Coues.  Cairns's 
Warbler.— The  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  breeding  in  the  "  higher  parts 
of  the  Alleghanies,  from  Virginia  to  Georgia,"  has  been  described  under  the 
above  name  by  Dr.  Coues  as  similar  to  Dendroica  coirulescens  but  somewhat 
smaller  and  with  "  the  middle  of  the  back  nearly  or  quite  black,  instead  of 
blue,  or  blue  with  only  a  few  black  touches."  (Coues,  The  Auk,  xiv,  1897, 
p.  96.) 

658.  Change  Dendroica  caerulea  (  Wils.)  to  Dendroica  rara 

(  Wils.),  the  former  name  being  preoccupied.     (See  Eidgway,  The  Auk,  xiv, 
1897,  p.  97.) 

684.  Change  Sylvania  mitrata  {Ghnel.)  to  Wilsonia  mitrata 

{Ghnel.),  the  generic  name  Sylvania   having  been  wrongly  applied.     (See 
Coues,  The  Auk,  xiv,  April,  1897.) 


414  APPENDIX  II. 

685.  Change  Sylvania  pusilla  (Wils.)  to  Wilsonia  pusilla 

(  Wils.)  for  the  reason  given  under  the  preceding  species. 

686*  Change  Sylvania  canadensis  (Linn.)  to  Wilsonia  cana- 
densis (Linn.)  for  the  reason  given  under  No.  684. 

754.  Add  Myadestes  townsendi  Aud.  Townsend's  Solitaike. — 
A  species  of  the  western  United  States  which  has  been  once  recorded  from 
Illinois.  (See  Eidgway,  Birds  Ills.,  p.  71.)  Omitted  in  error  from  previous 
editiong. 


LIST   OF  WORKS   TO   WHICH   REFERENCE  IS 
MOST  FREQUENTLY   MADE   IN   THIS   VOLUME. 

The  Auk,  a  Quarterly  Journal  of  Ornithology.  Editor,  J.  A.  Allen ; 
Associate  Editor,  Frank  M.  Chapman.  Published  for  the  American 
Ornithologists'  Union.     New  York  [35  Pine  Street] :  L.  S.  Foster. 

As  the  oflScial  organ  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union  The 
Auk  is  the  leading  ornithological  journal  of  this  country.  Volumes 
I  to  VIII,  1876-'83,  were  published  as  the  Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Or- 
nithological Club  (Cambridge,  Mass.),  the  present  name  being  adopted 
upon  the  founding  of  the  Union.  Each  volume  of  The  Auk  contains 
about  four  hundred  octavo  pages  and  four  colored  plates ;  price  per 
volume,  $3 ;  per  number,  75  cents. 

Baird,  S.  F.,  Brewer,  T.  M.,  and  Ridgway,  R.  A  History  of 
North  American  Birds.  .  .  .  Land  Birds  [Vols.  I  to  III],  Illustrated 
by  sixty-four  colored  plates  and  five  hundred  and  ninety-three  wood- 
cuts. Boston :  Little,  Brown  &  Company.  3  vols.,  4to,  1874.  Vol.  I. 
Turdidm-FringillidcB,  pp.  1-596 ;  Vol.  II.  Fringillidce-Picidce,  pp.  1- 
590 ;  Vol.  Ill,  Sirigidce-PerdicidcB,  pp.  1-560.  (Issued  also  with  un- 
colored  plates.)  Water  Birds  [Vols.  1  and  II].  Published  as  Vols.  XII 
and  XIII  of  the  Memoirs  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology 
(Cambridge).  Issued  in  continuation  of  the  publications  of  the  Geo- 
logical Survey  of  California.  Boston :  Little,  Brown  &  Company.  2 
vols.,  4to,  numerous  woodcuts,  mostly  colored,  1884.  Vol.  I,  Ardeidce- 
Anafince,  pp.  1-537;  Vol.  II,  Anatince-AlcidcB,  pp.  1-552, 

Bendire,  Charles.  Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds,  with 
Special  Reference  to  their  Breeding  Habits  and  Eggs.  With  twelve 
lithographic  plates.  4to,  pp.  i-viii :  1-414.  Washington,  1892.  Pub- 
lished as  Vol.  XXVIII  of  the  Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowl- 
edge, and  as  Special  Bulletin  No.  1  of  the  United  States  National 
Museum. 

The  authority  upon  the  groups  of  which  it  treats. 

Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  A  Quarterly  Journal 
of  Ornithology.     Editor,  J.  A.  Allen,     Associate  Editors,  S.  F.  Baird 

415 


416  LIST  OF   WORKS. 

and  Elliott  Cones.  Cambridge,  Mass. :  Published  by  the  Club,  Vols. 
I  to  Vin,  1876-'83.  (Address  C.  F.  Batchelder,  Treasurer,  Cambridge, 
Mass.) 

Continued  as  The  Auk,  which  see. 

Chamberlain,  Montague.  A  Popular  Handbook  of  the  Orni- 
thology of  the  [Eastern]  United  States  and  Canada,  based  on  Nuttall's 
Manual.  .  .  .  Vol.  I,  The  Land  Birds,  pp.  i-xlviii,  1-473;  Vol.  II, 
Game  and  Water  Birds,  pp.  i-vii,  1-431.     8vo,  numerous  illustrations. 

The  Code  of  Nomenclature  and  Check-List  of  North  American 
Birds,  adopted  by  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union.  Being  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  Union  on  Classification  and  Nomen- 
clature. .  .  .  New  York:  American  Ornithologists'  Union,  1886.  8vo, 
pp.  i-viii,  1-393. 

This  edition  is  now  out  of  print ;  a  revised  edition,  without  the 
Code  of  Nomenclature,  will  appear  during  the  present  year.  An 
abridged  edition,  giving  only  the  systematic  and  English  names,  was 
published  in  1889. 

CouES,  Elliott.  Key  to  North  American  Birds,  .  .  .  with  which 
are  incorporated  General  Ornithology,  an  Outline  of  the  Structure  and 
Classification  of  Birds ;  and  Field  Ornithology,  a  Manual  of  Collect- 
ing, Preparing,  and  Preserving  Birds.  Profusely  illustrated.  Boston : 
Estes  &  Lauriat,  1884.     Royal  8vo,  pp.  i-xxx,  1-862. 

This  is  issued  as  the  second  edition  of  the  "  Key  "  published  in  1872, 
but  is  really  the  first  edition  of  the  new  "  Key."  Several  reprints,  with 
an  appendix  giving  newly  described  birds,  recent  changes  in  nomencla- 
ture, etc.,  have  appeared.  The  influence  of  this  work  in  promoting 
ornithological  research  in  America  can  not  be  overestimated.  To  one 
intending  to  enter  upon  the  scientific  study  of  birds  it  is  indispensable. 

Davie,  Oliver.  Nest  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds.  Third 
edition,  revised  and  augmented.  Introduction  by  J.  Parker  Norris. 
Columbus  [Ohio] :  Hann  &  Adair,  1889.  8vo,  pp.  i-xii,  1-455.  Thir- 
teen plates. 

Fisher,  A.  K.  The  Hawks  and  Owls  of  the  United  States  in  their 
Relation  to  Agriculture  Prepared  under  the  Direction  of  Dr.  C.  Hart 
Merriam,  Chief  of  Division.  Bulletin  No.  3,  Division  of  Ornithology 
and  Mammalogy,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture:  Wash- 
ington, 1893.     8vo,  pp.  1-210.     Twenty-five  colored  plates. 

Viewed  from  whatever  standpoint,  this  is  a  model  work. 

Goss,  N.  S.  History  of  the  Birds  of  Kansas.  Illustrating  Five 
Hundred  and  Twenty-nine  Birds.  Topeka,  Kansas :  George  W.  Crane 
&  Co.,  1891.     Royal  8vo,  pp.  1-692.     Thirty-five  plates. 


LIST  OF  WORKS.  417 

A  work  of  far  wider  interest  than  the  title  implies.  Colonel  Goss 
studied  birds  in  many  lands,  and  his  pages  testify  to  the  keenness  of 
his  observation. 

Langille,  J.  HiBBERT.  Our  Birds  in  their  Haunts:  A  Popular 
Treatise  on  the  Birds  of  Eastern  North  America.  Boston :  S.  E.  Cas- 
sino  &  Co.,  1884.    13mo,  pp.  1-634. 

Maynard,  C.  J.  The  Birds  of  Eastern  North  America.  With 
Original  Descriptions  of  all  the  Species  which  occur  East  of  the 
Mississippi  River  between  the  Arctic  Circle  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
with  Full  Notes  on  their  -Habits,  etc.  Containing  thirty-two  plates 
drawn  on  stone  by  the  author.  Newtonville,  Mass. :  C.  J.  Maynard 
&  Co.    4to,  pp.  1-532. 

This  is  the  final  title-page;  the  first  three  parts  (i-iii,  1873-74) 
were  issued  as  The  Birds  of  Florida,  etc. ;  the  next  six  (iv-ix,  1878)  as 
The  Birds  of  Florida  with  the  Water  and  Game  Birds  of  Eastern  North 
America ;  and  the  concluding  seven  (x-xvi,  1879-'82)  with  the  title  as 
quoted  in  full  above. 

MiNOT,  H.  D.  The  Land  Birds  and  Game  Birds  of  New  England, 
with  Descriptions  of  the  Birds,  their  Nests  and  Eggs,  their  Habits  and 
Notes.  With  Illustrations.  Salem,  Mass.,  Naturalists'  Agency.  Bos- 
ton :  Estes  &  Lauriat,  1877.     8vo,  pp.  i-xvi,  1-456. 

A  second  edition,  edited  by  William  Brewster,  published  by  Hough- 
ton, Mifflin  &  Co.,  of  which  I  have  seen  advance  sheets  of  the  Editor's 
Appendix,  is  issued  as  these  pages  go  to  press. 

Nelson,  Edward  W.  Report  upon  Natural  History  Collections 
made  in  Alaska  between  the  Years  1877  and  1881.  .  .  .  Edited  by 
Henry  W.  Henshaw.  .  .  .  No.  III.  Arctic  Series  of  Publications,  issued 
in  Connection  with  the  Signal  Service,  United  States  Army.  With 
twenty-one  Plates.  Washington :  Government  Printing  OflBce,  1887. 
4to.     Birds,  pp.  35-336,  twelve  colored  plates. 

Ridgway,  Robert.  A  Manual  of  North  American  Birds.  Illus- 
trated by  Four  Hundred  and  Sixty-four  Drawings  of  the  Generic  Char- 
acters. Philadelphia:  J.  B.  Lippincott  Company,  1887.  Royal  8vo, 
pp.  i-xi,  1-631.     One  hundred  and  twenty-four  plates. 

Our  standard  systematic  work. 

Ridgway,  Robert.  The  Ornithology  of  Illinois.  Part  1.  De- 
scriptive Catalogue.  Vol.  I  [Land  Birds  exclusive  of  the  Gallince]. 
Published  by  authority  of  the  State  Legislature.  Springfield,  111. : 
H.  W.  Rokker,  Printer  and  Binder,  1889.  Royal  8vo,  pp.  i-viii, 
1-530.  Colored  frontispiece.  Thirty-two  plates. 
S8 


41 S  LIST  OP   WORKS. 

Saunders,  Howard.    An  Illustrated  Manual  of  British  Birds. 
With    Illustrations   of  nearly   Every   Species.      London:    Gurney   & 
Jaekson,  1  Paternoster  Row,  1889.     8vo,  pp.  i-xl,  1-754. 

Thompson,  Ernest  E.     The  Birds  of  Manitoba.     Proceedings  of 
the  United  States  National  Museum,  xiii,  1891,  pp.  457-643. 


IND  EX, 


Abbreviations,  list  of,  40. 
Acanthis  horneraannii,  284. 

hornemannii  exilipes,  284. 

linaria,  284. 

linaria  holboellii,  285. 

linaria  rostrata,  285. 
Accidental  visitants  defined,  12. 
Accipiter  atricapillus,  199. 

cooperi,  199. 

velox,  198. 
Actitis  macularia,  169. 
^gialitis  hiaticula,  175. 

meloda,  175. 

meloda  circumcincta,  175. 

montana,  176, 

semipalmata,  174. 

vociiera,  173. 

wilsonia,  176. 
JEstrelata  hasitata,  89. 

scalaris,  89. 
Agelaius  phoeniceus,  264. 

phoeniceus  bryanti,  265. 
Aix  sponsa,  107. 
Ajaja  ajaja,  126. 
Alauda  arvensis,  253. 
Alaudidse,  252. 
Albatross,  Wandering,  86. 

Yellow-nosed,  86. 
Alca  torda,  32. 
Alcedinidae,  226. 
Alcidse,  60. 
Alle  alle,  64. 

American  Ornithologists'  Union,  32. 
Ammodramus  caudacutus,  295. 

caudacutus  nelsoni,  296. 

caudacutus  subvirgatus,  296. 

henslowii,  294. 

lecontei,  295. 

maritimus,  297. 

maritimus  peninsulse,  298. 

ni^rescens,  298. 

prmceps,  291. 

sandwich ensis  savanna,  292. 

savannarum  passerinus,  293. 
Ampelidse,  323. 
Ampelis  cedrorum,  323. 

garrulus,  323. 
Anas  americana,  103. 


Anas  boschas,  101. 

carolinensis,  104. 

crecea,  105. 

cyanoptera,  105. 

discors,  105. 

fulvigula,  102. 

obscura,  102. 

penelope,  103. 

strepera,  103. 
Anatidse,  97. 
Anatmse,  100. 
Anhinga  anhinga,  93. 
AnhingidsQ,  93. 
Ani,  226. 

xlnous  stolidus,  85. 
Anser  albifrons,  122. 

albifrons  gambeli,  121, 
Anseres,  97. 
Anserinse,  119. 
Anthus  pensilvanicus,  375. 

pratensis,  376. 

spraguei,  376. 
Antrostomus  carolinensis,  236, 

vociferus,  237. 
Aphelocoma  floridana,  255. 
Aphrizidee,  176. 
Aquila  chrysaetos,  206. 
Aramidffi,  138. 
Aramus  giganteus,  139. 
Archibuteo  ferrugineus,  206. 

lagopus  sancti-johannis,  20S. 
Ardea  candidissima,  134. 

cinerea,  133. 

coerulea,  135. 

egretta,  133. 

herodias,  132. 

occidentalis,  131, 

pealei,  134. 

rufescens,  134. 

tricolor  ruflcollis,  135, 

vn-escens,  136. 

wardi,  132. 

wuerdemanni,  131. 
Ardeidas,  128. 
Ardetta  exilis,  130. 

neoxena,  131. 
Arcnaria  interpres,  177. 
Asio  accipitrinus,  215, 


419 


420 


INDEX. 


■//^ 


Asio  wilsonianus,  214. 
Asturina  plagiata,  205. 
Auk,  Great,  64. 

Kazor-billed,  63. 

The,  32. 
Avocet,  American,  149. 
Aythya  affinis,  112. 

americana,  110. 

collaris,  112. 

marila  nearctica.  111. 

vallisneria,  110. 

Baldpate,  103. 
Bartramia  longicauda,  167. 
Beetlehead,  172. 
Bittern,  American,  129. 

Cory's,  131. 

Least,  130. 
Bicknell,    Eugene    P.,    biographical 
sketches  by,  281,  309,  400. 

observations  by,  14. 
Biographies,  plan  of,  38. 
Birds,  collecting,  22. 

color  of,  4. 

distribution  of,  3. 

how  to  identify,  10. 

migration  of,  5, 15. 

nesting  of,  3,  19. 

origin  of,  3. 

sexing,  27. 

skinning,  24. 

study  of,  out-of-doors,  10. 

when  to  find,  12. 
Blackbird,  Brewer's,  269. 

Crow,  269,  270. 

Florida  Red-wing,  265. 

Red-winged,  264. 

Rusty,  268. 

Yellow-headed,  263. 
Blackbreast,  161. 
Blackhead,  111. 

Little,  112. 
Bluebill,  111. 

Little,  112. 
Bluebird,  402. 
Blue  Peter,  146. 
Bobolink,  261. 
Bob-white,  178. 

Florida,  179. 
Bonasa  umbellus,  180. 

umbellus  togata,  182. 
Booby,  92. 

Blue-faced,  92. 

Red-footed,  92. 
Botaurus  lentiginosus,  129. 
Brant,  123. 

Black,  123. 
Branta  bernicla,  123. 

canadensis,  122. 
Branta  canadensis  hutchinsii,  122. 

canadensis  minima,  122. 


Branta  leucopsis,  124. 

nigricans,  123. 
Brant-bird,  177. 

Brewster,       William,       biographical 
sketches  by,  142, 155. 

observations  by,  38. 
Broadbill,  111. 

Creek,  112. 
Bubo  virginianus,  219. 

Virginian  us  saturatus,  220. 

virginianus  subarcticus,  220. 
Bubonidas,  213. 
Bufflehead,  114. 
Bull-bat,  238,  239. 
Bulweria  bulweri,  89. 
Bunting,  Bay-winged,  290. 

Black-throated,  315. 

Indigo,  313. 

Lark,  316. 

Painted,  314. 

Snow,  288. 

Varied,  314. 
Burgomaster,  70. 
Butcher-bird,  325. 
Buteo  borealis,  200. 

borealis  calurus,  201. 

borealis  harlani,  201. 

borealis  kriderii,  201. 

brachyurus,  204. 

buteo,  201. 

latissimus,  204. 

lineatus,  201. 

lineatus  alleni,  203. 

swainsoni,  203. 
Butter-ball,  114. 
Buzzard,  European,  201. 

Turkey,  191. 

Calamospiza  melanocorys,  316. 
Calcarius  lapponicus,  289. 

ornatus,  290. 

pictus,  289. 
Calico-back,  177. 
Calidris  arenaria,  163. 
Callichelidon  cyaneoviridis,  322. 
Campephilus  principalis,  229. 
Camptolaimus  labradorius,  115. 
Canary,  Wild,  353. 
Canvasback,  110. 
Caprimulgidse,  236. 
Caracara,  Audubon's,  211. 
Cardinal,  311. 
Cardinalis  cardinalis,  311. 
Carduelis  carduelis,  287. 
Carpodacus  purpureus,  281. 
Cataloguing  birds,  28. 
Catbird,  378. 
Catharista  atrata,  192. 
Cathartes  aura,  191. 
Cathartidse,  191. 
Cedar- bird,  323. 


INDEX. 


421 


Ceophloeus  pileatus,  233. 
Cepphus  grylle,  61. 

iiiandtii,  62. 
Certhia  familiaris  americana,  385. 
Certhiidae,  385.   .. 
Cerjle  alcyon,  226. 
Chsetura  pelagica,  239. 
Cliaradriidse,  171. 
Charadrius  apricarius,  173. 

dominicus,  173. 

squatarola,  172. 
Charitonetta  albeola,  114. 
Chat,  Yellow-breasted,  372. 
Chebec,  251. 

Chelidon  erythrogaster,  320. 
Chen  coerulescens,  121. 

hyperborea,  120.. 

nivalis,  120. 
Cherry-bird,  323. 
Chewink,  310. 
Chickadee,  390. 

Carolina,  391. 

Hudsonian,  391. 
Chippy,  302. 

Winter,  301. 
Chondestes  grammacus,  299. 
Chordeiles  virginianus,  238. 

virginianus  chapmani,  239. 

virginianus  henryi,  239. 
Chuck-wilPs-widow,  236. 
Ciconiidee,  127. 
Circus  hudsonius,  197. 
Cistothorus  palustris,  384. 

palustris  griseus,  385. 

palustris  marianse,  385. 

stellaris,  383. 
Clangula  hyemalis,  114. 
Clape,  235. 
Clivicola  riparia,  322. 
Cocothraustes  vespertinus,  279. 
Coccyges,  224. 
Coccyzus  americanus,  225. 

erythropthalmus,  226. 

minor,  224. 

minor  maynardi,  225. 
Ccereba  bahamensis,  333. 
Colaptes  auratus,  235. 
Colinus  virginianus,  178. 

virginianus  floridanus,  179. 
Collecting  birds,  23. 
•    eggs,  29. 

nests,  29. 
Collections,  care  of,  29. 
Color  chart,  39. 
Columba  leucocephala,  187. 
Columbag,  187. 
Columbidge,  187. 
Columbigallina    passerina    terrestris, 

190. 
Colymbus  auritus,  3. 

holboellii,  56. 


Compsothlypis  americana,  352. 
Contopus  borealis,  246. 

virens,  247. 
Conurus  oarolinensis,  222. 
Coot,  American,  146. 

Black,  117. 

European,  147. 

Sea,  118. 

White-winged,  118. 
Cormorant,  94. 

Double-crested,  94. 

Florida.  95. 

Mexican,  95. 
Corvidaj,  253. 
Corvus  americanus,  257. 

americanus  lioridanus,  258. 

corax  principalis,  256. 

ossifragus,  258. 
Coturnix  coturnix,  180. 
Courlan,  139. 
Cowbird,  262. 
Crake,  Corn,  144. 

Spotted,  144. 
Crane,  Blue,  132, 

Brown,  138. 

Little  Brown,  138. 

Sandhill,  132,  138. 

White,  137. 

Whooping,  137. 
Creeper,  Bahama  Honey,  333. 

Black  and  White,  343. 

Brown,  385. 
Crex  crex,  144. 
Crossbill,  ximerican,  283. 

Bed,  283. 

White-winged,  283. 
Crotophaga  ani,  226. 
Crow,  American,  257. 

Fish,  258. 

Florida,  258. 
Crying-bird,  139. 
Crymophilus  fulicarius,  147. 
Cuckoo,  Black-billed,  226. 

Mangrove,  224. 

Maynard's,  225. 

Yellow-billed,  225. 
Cuculidse,  224. 
Curlew,  Eskimo,  170. 

Hudsonian,  170. 

Jack,  170. 

Long-billed,  170. 

Pink,  126. 

Spanish,  126. 
Cyanocitta  cristata,  254. 

cristata  florincola,  255. 
Cygninffi,  124. 
Cymodroma  grallaria,  91. 

Dabchick,  57. 
Dafila  acuta,  106. 
Definition  of  terms,  32. 


422 


INDEX. 


DenJruii-upus  canadensis,  180. 
Dendroic-a  testiva,  353. 

auduboni,  356. 

black buruiae,  360. 

cierulea,  357. 

citrulescens,  354. 

castanea,  358. 

coronata,  355. 

discolor,  364. 

doininica,  361. 

dominica  albilora,  361. 

kirtlandi,  362. 

maculosa,  356. 

palmarum,  363. 

palmarum  hypochrysea,  364. 

pensylvanica,  357. 

striata,  359. 

tigrina,  352. 

townsendi,  362. 

vigorsii,  363. 

virens,  361. 
Dickcissel,  315. 
Diedapper,  57. 
Diomedea  exulans,  86. 
Diomedeidae,  86. 
Diving  birds,  56. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  261. 
Doughbird,  170. 
Dove,  Blue-headed  Quail,  191. 

Ground,  190. 

Mournins:,  188,  190. 

Quail,  190. 

Kuddy  Quail,  191. 

Sea,  64. 

White-winged,  190. 

Zenaida,  189. 
Dovekie,  64. 
Dowitcher,  155. 

Long-billed,  156. 

Western,  156. 
Dry 0 bates  borealis,  231. 

pubescens,  230. 

villosus,  229. 

villosus  audubonii,  230. 

villosus  leucomelas,  230. 
Duck,  American  Scaup,  111. 

Black, 102 

Broad-bill,  111. 

Crow,  146. 

Dusky,  102. 

Florida,  102. 

Gray,  103. 

Greater  Scaup,  111. 

Harlequin,  115. 

Labrador,  115. 

Lesser  Scaup,  112. 

Masked,  119. 

Pied,  115. 

King-necked,  112. 

Kuddy,  119. 

Rufous-crested,  109. 


Duck,  Scaup,  111. 

Spirit,  114. 

Steller's,  116. 

Wood,  107. 
Dunlin,  161. 
Dutcher,    William,  observations    by, 

38. 
Dwight,  J.,  Jr.,  biographical  sketches 
by,  248,  250,  268,  290,  293,  296,  297, 
308,  399. 

Eagle,  Bald,  207. 

Golden,  206. 

Gray  Sea,  207. 
Ectopistes  migratorius,  187. 
Eggs,  collecting,  29. 

descriptions  of,  38 ; 

preserving,  30. 
Egret,  American,  133. 

Peale's,  134. 

Eeddish,  134. 

Snowy,  134. 
Eider,  American,  116. 

Greenland,  116. 

King,  116. 
Elanoides  foi-flcatus,  196. 
Elanus  leucurus,  196. 
Empidonax  aeadicus,  249. 

flaviventris,  248. 

minimus,  251. 

pusillus,  251. 

traillii,  250. 

train  ii  alnorum,  251. 

virescens,  249. 
Eniconetta  stelleri,  116. 
Ereunetes  pusillus,  161. 

occidentalis,  162. 
Erismatura  rubida,  119. 
Euetheia  bicolor,  315. 

canora,  315. 

Falco  columbarius,  210. 

islandus,  208. 

mexicanus,  209. 

peregrinus  anatum,  209. 

regulus,  211. 

rusticolus,  208. 

rusticolus  gyrfalco,  209. 

rusticolus  obsoletus,  209. 

sparverioides,  211. 

sparverius,  211. 

tinnunculus,  211. 
Falcon,  Peregrine,  210. 

Prairie,  209. 
Falconidse,  193. 
Feathers,  markings  of,  32. 
Field-glass,  use  of,  11. 
Finch,  Grass,  290.  ' 

Lark,  299. 

Pine,  287. 

Purple,  281. 


INDEX. 


423 


Firebird,  267. 

Fisher,  Dr.  A.  K.,   observations    by, 

38. 
Flamingo,  125. 
Flicker,  235. 

Florida  Yellow-throat,  371. 
Flycatcher,  Acadian,  249. 

Alder,  251. 

Crested,  244. 

Fork-tailed,  243. 

Great-crested,  244. 

Least,  251. 

Olive-sided,  246. 

Scissor-tailed,  243. 

TrailPs,  250. 

Yellow-bellied,  248. 
Fratercula  arctica,  60. 

arctica  glacialis,  61. 
Fregata  aquila,  97. 
Fregatidse,  97: 
Frigate-bird,  97. 
Fringillidae,  271. 
Fulica  americana,  146. 

atra,  147. 
Fuligulinae,  107. 
Fulmar,  87. 

Lesser,  87. 
Fulmarus  glacialis,  87. 

glacialis  minor,  87. 
Fute,  170. 

Gadwall,  103. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis,  378. 
Gallinse,  178. 
Gallinago  delicata,  154. 

gallinago,  155. 
Gallinula  galeata,  145. 
Gallinule,  Florida,  145. 

Purple,  145. 
Gannet,  92. 
Gavia  alba,  68. 
Gelochelidon  nilotica,  78. 
Geothlypis  agilis,  369. 

formosa,  368. 

Philadelphia,  370. 

trichas,  371. 

trichas  ignota,  371. 
Geotrygon  niartinica,  190. 

montana,  191. 
Glaucionetta  clangula  americana,  113. 

islandica,  113. 
Gnatcatcher,  Blue-gray,  394. 
Goatsuckers,  236. 
Godwit,  Black-tailed,  164. 

Hudsonian,  164. 

Marbled,  163. 
Golden-eye,  American,  113. 

Barrow's,  113. 
Goldfinch,  American,  286. 

Black -headed,  287. 

European,  287. 


Goosander,  98. 

Goose,  American  White-fronted,  121. 

Barnacle,  124. 

Blue,  120. 

Cackling,  122. 

Canada,  122. 

European  White-fronted,  122. 

Greater  Snow,  120. 

Hutchins's,  122. 

Lesser  Snow,  120. 
Goshawk,  American,  199. 
Grackle,  Mexican,  205. 

Boat-tailed,  271. 

Bronze,  270. 

Florida,  270. 

Purple,  269. 
Grassquit,  315. 

Melodious,  315. 
Greenback,  173. 
Greenshank,  165. 
Grebe,  Holboell's,  56. 

Horned,  57. 

Pied-billed,  57. 
Grosbeak,  Black-headed,  313. 

Blue,  313. 

Evening,  279. 

Pine,  280. 

Kose-breasted,  312. 
Grouse,  Canada,  180. 

Canadian  Ruffed,  182. 

Prairie  Sharp-tailed,  185. 

Ruffed,  180. 
Gruidae,  137. 
Grus  americana,  137. 

canadensis,  138. 

mexicana,  138. 
Guara  alba,  126. 

rubra,  127. 
Guillemot,  Black,  61. 

Mandt's,  62. 
Guiraca  cserulea,  313. 
Gull,  American  Herring,  72. 

Black-headed,  74. 

Bonaparte's,  75. 

European,  73. 

Franklin's,  74. 

Glaucous,  70. 

Great  Black -backed,  71. 

Iceland,  71. 

Herring,  72. 

Ivory,  68. 

Kumlien's,  71. 

Laughing,  74. 

Little,  76: 

Mew,  74. 

Ring-billed,  73. 

Ross's,  76. 

Sabine's,  76. 

Siberian,  72. 
Gun,  kind  of,  23. 

load  for,  24. 


424 


INDEX. 


Gyrfalcon,  209. 
Black,  209. 
Gray,  208. 
White,  208. 

Habia  ludoviciana,  312. 

melanocephala,  313. 
Hsematopodidae,  177. 
Haematopus  ostralegus,  177. 

palliatUH,  177. 
Hacjdon,  88. 

Black,  89. 
Haliseetus  albicilla,  207. 

leucocephalus,  207. 
Hang-nest,  267. 
Harporhynchus  rufus,  379. 
Harrier,  197. 
Hawk,  American  Eough-legged,  205. 

American  Sparrow,  211. 

Broad-winged,  204. 

Chicken,  200,  201. 

Cooper's,  199. 

Cuban  Sparrow,  211. 

Duck,  209. 

Ferruginous  Rough-leg,  206. 

Fish,  212. 

Florida  Eed-shouldered,  203. 

Harlan's,  201. 

Hen,  200,  201. 

Killy,  211. 

Krider's,  201. 

Marsh,  197. 

Pigeon,  210. 

Eed-shouldered,  201. 

Eed-tailed,  200. 

Eough-legged,  205. 

Sharp-shinned,  198. 

Short-tailed,  204. 

Snail,  197. 

Sparrow,  211. 

Swainson's,  203. 
Heath  Hen,  185. 
Helinaia  swainsonii,  345. 
Hell  Diver,  57. 
Helminth ophil a  bachmani,  346. 

celata,  350. 

chrysoptera,  348. 

lawrencei,  348. 

leucobronchialis,  347. 

peregrina,  350. 

pinus,  347. 

ruficapilla,  349. 
Helmitherus  vermivorus,  345. 
Hen,  Heath,  185. 
Hen,  Prairie,  184. 
Herodiones,  125. 
Heron,  Black-crowned  Night,  136. 

European  Great  Blue,  133. 

Great  Blue,  132. 

Great  White,  131. 

Green,  136. 


Heron,  Little  Blue,  135. 

Little  Green,  136. 

Louisiana,  135. 

Snowy,  134. 

Ward's,  132. 

Wurdemann's,  131. 

Yellow-crowned  Night,  137. 
Hesperocichla  nsevia,  402. 
High-hole,  235. 
Himantopus  mexicanus,  150. 
Hirundinidffi,  318. 
Histrionicus  histrionicus,  115. 
Honey  Creeper,  Bahama,  333. 
Hummingbird,  Euby-throated,  241. 
Hydrochelidon  leucoptera,  85. 

nigra  surinamensis,  84. 

Ibidid^,  126. 

Ibis,  Glossy,  127.  , 

Scarlet,  127. 

White,  126. 

White-faced  Glossy,  127. 

Wood,  128. 
Icteria  virens,  372. 
Icteridse,  260. 
Icterus  bullocki,  268. 

galbula,  267. 

icterus,  266. 

spurius,  266. 
Ictma  mississippiensis,  196. 
niustrations,  39. 
Indigo-bird,  313. 
lonornis  martinica,  145. 

Jaeger,  Long-tailed,  66. 

Parasitic,  66. 

Pomarine,  65. 
Jay,  Blue,  254. 

Canada,  256. 

Florida,  255. 

Florida  Blue,  255. 

Labrador,  256. 
Joree,  310. 
Journals,  21. 
Junco,  304. 

Carolina,  305. 

hyemalis,  304. 

hyemalis  carolinensis,  305. 

hyemalis  shufeldti,  305. 

Shufeldt's,  305. 

Slate-colored,  304. 

Kestrel,  211. 
Keys,  use  of,  32. 
Killdeer,  173. 
Kingbird,  243. 

Arkansas,  244, 

Gray,  244. 
Kingfisher,  Belted,  226. 
Kinglet,  Euby-crowned,  393. 

Golden-crowned,  392. 


INDEX. 


425 


Kite,  Everglade,  197. 

Mississippi,  196. 

Swallow-tailed,  196. 

White-tailed,  196. 
Kittiwake,  69. 
Knot,  157. 
Krieker,  158. 

Labeling  bikds,  28. 

Labels,  28. 

Lagopus  lagopus,  182. 

lagopua  alleni,  182. 

rupestris,  182. 

rupestris  reinhardti,  183. 

welchi,  183. 
Lamellirostral  Grallatores,  125. 

Swimmers,  97. 
Lanius  borealis,  325. 

ludovicianus,  325. 

ludovieianus  excubitorides,  326. 
Laniidse,  325. 
Lapwing,  172. 
Lark,  Field,  265. 

Horned,  252. 

Meadow,  265. 

Prairie,  266. 

Prairie  Horned,  262. 

Shore,  252. 

Western  Meadow,  266. 
Laridse,  67. 
Larinse,  67. 
Larus  affinis,  72. 

argentatus,  73. 

argentatus  smithsonianus,  72. 

atricilla,  74. 

canus,  74. 

delawarensis,  73. 

franklini,  74. 

flaucus,  70. 
umlieni,  71. 

leucopterus,  71. 

marinus,  71. 

minutus,  76. 

Philadelphia,  75. 
Leadback,  160. 
Limicolae,  147. 
Limosa  fedoa,  163. 

hsemastica,  164. 

limosa,  164. 
Limpkin,  139. 
Loggerhead,  325. 
Longipennes,  65. 
Longspur,  Chestnut-collared,  290. 

Lapland,  289. 

McCovvn's,  290. 

Smith's,  289. 
Long- winged  Swimmers,  65. 
Loon,  58. 

Black-throated,  59. 

Eed-throated,  59. 
Lophodytes  cucullatus,  99. 


Loxia  curvirostra  minor,  283. 
leucoptera,  283. 

Macrorhampus  griseus,  155. 

scolopaceus,  156. 
Macrochires,  236. 
Magpie,  255.  \ 

Mallard,  101. 
Man-of-War  Bird,  97. 
Marsh  Hen,  129,  140. 
Marlin,  Brown,  163. 

King-tailed,  164. 
Martin,  Cuban,  319, 

Purple,  319. 
Maryland  Yellow-throat,  371. 
Meadowlark,  265. 

Western,  266. 
Measurements  of  birds,  37. 
Megalestris  skua,  65. 
Megascops  asio,  218. 

asio  iioridanus,  219. 
Melanerpes  carolinus,  234. 

erythrocephalus,  233. 
Meleagris  gallopavo,  186. 

gallopavo  osceola,  186. 
Melopelia  leucoptera,  190. 
Melospiza  fasciata,  306. 

georgiana,  308. 

lincolni,  307. 
Merganser  americanus,  98. 

serrator,  99. 
Merganser,  American,  98. 

Hooded,  99. 

Eed-breasted,  99. 
Merginae,  98. 
Merlin,  211. 

Merriam,   Florence   A.,  biographical 
sketches  by,  245,  304,  314,  317,  324, 
382. 
Merula  migratoria,  401. 
Micropalama  himantopus,  156. 
Micropodidse,  239. 
Migration  of  birds,  5. 

tables  of,  15. 
Milvulus  forficatus,  243. 

tyrannus,  243. 
Miller,    Olive    Thorne,    biographical 

sketches  by,  243,  311,  379. 
Mimus  polyglottos,  377. 
Mniotilta  varia,  343. 
Mniotiltidse,  333. 
Mockingbird,  377. 
Molothrus  ater,  262. 
Moose-bird,  256. 
Motacilla  alba,  376. 
Motacillidge,  375. 
Mother  Carey's  Chicken,  91. 
Mud  Hen,  146. 
Murre,  62. 

Brtinnich's,  63. 
Myiarehus  crinitus,  244. 


426 


INDEX. 


Nesting  season,  13,  19,  20. 
Nests,  collecting,  29. 

descriptions  of,  38. 

preserving,  31. 
Netta  rulina,  109. 
Night  Hawk,  238. 

Florida,  239. 

Western,  239. 
Noddy,  85,  87. 
Nomenclature,  5,  32. 
Nomonyx  dominicus,  119. 
Nonpareil,  314. 
Note-books,  21. 
Numenius  borealis,  170. 

hudsonicus,  170, 

longirostris,  170. 

phseopus,  171. 
Nuthatch,  Brown-headed,  388. 

Florida  White-breasted,  388. 

Eed-breasted,  388. 

White-breasted,  387. 
Nyctala  acadica,  217. 

tengmalmi  richardsoni,  217. 
Nyctea  nyctea,  220. 
Nycticorax  nycticorax  nasvius,  136. 

violaceus,  137. 

OCEANITES  OCEANICUS,  90. 

Oceanodroma  leucorhoa,  89. 
Odontoglossse,  125. 
Oidemia  americana,  117- 

deglandi,  118. 

fusca,  118. 

perspicillata,  118. 
Old  Squaw,  114. 

Wife,  114. 
Olor  buccinator,  124. 

columbianus,  124. 

cygnus,  125. 
Opera-glass,  use  of,  11. 
Oriole,  Baltimore,  267. 

Bullock's,  268. 

Orchard,  266. 
Ornithology,  economic,  6. 

philosophic,  3. 

sentiment  of,  8. 

study  of,  1. 

systematic,  2. 
Osprey,  American,  212. 
Otocoris  alpestris,  252. 

alpestris  praticola,  252. 
Oven-bird,  365. 
Owl,  Acadian,  217. 

American  Barn,  213. 

American  Hawk,  221. 

American  Long-eared,  214. 

Barn,  213. 

Barred,  215. 

Burrowing,  221. 

Duskv-horned,  220. 

Florida  Barred,  216, 


Owl,  Florida  Burrowing,  221. 

Florida  Screech,  218. 

Great  Gray,  217. 

Great  Horned,  219. 

Hawk,  221. 

Hoot,  215. 

Long-eared,  214. 

Monkey-faced,  213. 

Kichardson's,  217. 

Saw-whet,  217- 

Screech,  218. 

Short-eared,  215. 

Snowy,  220. 

Western  Horned,  220. 
Oxeye,  Meadow,  160. 

Sand,  161. 
Oyster-catcher,  American,  177. 

European,  177. 

Palmetto  Bird,  371. 

Paludicolse,  137. 

Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis,  212. 

Paridae,  386. 

Paroquet,  Carolina,  222. 

Parrot,  Sea,  60. 

Partridge,  178,  179,  180,  182. 

Spruce,  180. 
Parus  atricapillus,  390. 

bicolor,  389. 

carolinensis,  391. 

hudsonicus,  391. 
Passer  domesticus,  282. 

montanus,  283. 
Passerella  iliaca,  309. 
Passeres,  242. 
Passerina  ciris,  314. 

cyanea,  313. 

versicolor,  314. 
Pavoncella  jmgnax,  167. 
Peabody-bird,  300. 
Pediocsetes    piiasianellus    campestris, 

185. 
Peep,  160, 161. 
Pelagodroma  marina,  91. 
Pelecanidie,  95. 
Pelecanus  erythrorhynchus,  95. 

fuscus,  96. 
Pelican,  Brown,  96. 

White,  95. 
Perisoreus  canadensis,  256. 

canadensis  nigricapillus,  256. 
Permanent  residents  defined,  12. 

list  of,  13. 
Petrel,  Black-capped,  89. 

Bulwer's,  89. 

Leach's,  89. 

Scaled,  89. 

Stormy,  89. 

White-bellied,  91. 

White-faced,  91. 

Wilson's,  90, 


INDEX. 


427 


Petrochelidon  fulva,  320, 

lunit'rons,  320. 
Peuc:ea  aestivalis,  305. 

aestivalis  baehmanii,  305. 
Pewee,  Wood,  247. 
Phaethon  tethereus,  91. 

liavirostris,  91. 
Phaethontidse,  91. 
Phalacrocoraeidae,  94. 
Phalacrocorax  carbo,  94. 

diloplius,  94. 

dilophus  iioridanus,  95. 

mexicanus,  95. 
Phalarope,  Gray,  147. 

Northern,  148. 

Ked,  147. 

Wilson's,  148. 
Phalaropodidse,  147. 
Phalaropiis  lobatus,  148. 

tricolor,  148. 
Phasianidae,  185. 
Philohela  minor,  153. 
Phoebe,  245. 

Say's,  246. 
PhoenicopteridEe,  125. 
Phoenicopterus  ruber,  125. 
I'ica  pica  hudsonica,  255. 
Pici,  227. 
Picidge,  227. 
Picoides  americanus,  232. 

arctious,  231. 
Pigeon,  Passenger,  187. 

Sea,  61. 

White-crowned,  187. 

Wild,  187. 
Pinicola  enucleator,  280. 
Pintail,  106. 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  310. 

erythrophthalmus  alleni,  310. 
Pipit,  American,  375. 

Meadow,  376. 

S  Prague's,  376. 
Piranga  erythromelas,  317. 

ludovieiana,  318. 

rubra,  317. 
Plataleidffi,  125. 
Plautus  impennis,  64. 
Plectrophenax  nivalis,  288. 
Plegadis  autumnalis,  127. 

guarauna,  127. 
Plover,  American  Golden,  173. 

Belted  Pipino-,  175. 

Black-bellied:,  172. 

European  Golden,  173. 

Field,  167. 

Golden,  173. 

Mountain,  176. 

Piping,  175. 

Eing,  175. 

Semipalmated,  174. 

Upland,  167. 


Plover,  Wilson's,  176. 
Podicipidffi,  56. 
Podilymbus  podiceps,  57. 
Poke,  136. 

Polioptila  oa?rulea,  394. 
Polyborus  chciiway,  211. 
Poocsetes  gramineus,  290. 
Porzana  Carolina,  143. 

jamaicensis,  144. 

noveboracensis,  144. 

porzana,  144. 
Prairie  Hen,  184. 
Procellaria  pelagica,  89. 
Procellariidae,  86. 
Progne  cryptoleuca,  319. 

subis,  319. 
Protonotaria  citrea,  344. 
Psittaei,  222. 
Psittacida?,  222. 
Ptarmigan,  Allen's,  182. 

Greenland,  183. 

Keinhardt's,  183. 

Eock,  182. 

Welch's,  183. 

Willow,  182. 
Puffin,  60. 

Large-billed,  61. 
Puffinus  auduboni,  88. 

borealis,  88. 

major,  88. 

puffinus,  88. 

stricklandi,  89. 
Pygopodes,  56. 

Quail,  178,  179. 

European,  180. 

Migratory,  180. 
Quawk,  136. 
Quiscalus  major,  271. 

quiscula,  269.  , 

quiscula  a-neus,  270. 

quiscula  aglseus,  270. 

Eaces,  geographical,  4. 
Eail,  Black,  144. 

Carolina,  143. 

Clapper,  140. 

Florida  Clapper,  141. 

Kiny,  140. 

Little  Black,  144. 

Louisiana  Clapper,  141. 

Virginia,  141. 

Yeflow.  144. 
Eallida?,  139. 
Eallus  elegans,  140. 

longirostris  crepitans,  140. 

longirostris  satuiatus,  141. 

longirostris  scottii,  141. 

virginianus,  141. 
Eange  of  birds,  37. 
Eaptores,  191. 


428 


INDEX. 


Raven,  Northern,  256. 
Eecurvirostra  americana,  149. 
Kecurvirostridse,  149. 
Redback,  161. 
Redhead,  110. 
Redpoll,  284. 

Greater,  285. 

Greenland,  284. 

Hoary,  284. 

Holbcell's,  285. 
Redstart,  374. 
Redtail,  Western,  201. 
Reedbird,  261. 
ReguluB  calendula,  393. 

satrapa,  392. 
Rhodostethia  rosea,  76. 
Rhyncophanes  raccownii,  290. 
Rice-bird,  261. 

Richmond,  C.  W.,  observations  by,  37. 
Ring-neck,  174. 
Rissa  tridactyla,  69. 
Robin,  American,  401. 

Golden,  267. 
Rostrhamus  sociabilis,  197. 
Rutf,  167. 
Rynchopidaa,  85. 
Rynchops  nigra,  86. 

Saddleback,  71. 
Sanderling,  163. 
Sandpiper,  Baird's,  159. 

Bartramian,  167. 

Buff-breasted,  168. 

Curlew,  161. 

Green,  165. 

Least,  160. 

Pectoral,  158. 

Purple,  157. 

Red-backed,  160. 

Semipalmated,  161. 

Solitary,  166. 

Spotted,  169. 

Stilt,  156. 

Western  Semipalmated,  162. 

White-rumped,  158. 
Sapsucker,  Yellow-bellied,  232. 
Saxicola  oenanthe,  402. 
Sayornis  phoebe,  245. 

saya,  246. 
Scissor-bill,  86. 
Scolecophagus  carol inus,  268. 

cyanocepnalus,  269. 
Scolopacidae,  150. 
Scolopax  rusticola,  154. 
Scoter,  American,  117. 

Surf,  118. 

Velvet,  118. 

White-winged,  118. 
Scotiaptex  cinereum,  217. 
Sea  Parrot,  60. 
Sea  Pigeon,  61. 


Sea  Swallow,  80. 
Seiurus  aurocapillus,  365. 

motacilla,  368. 

noveboracensis,  367. 

noveboracensis  notabilis,  368. 
Setophaga  ruticilla,  374. 
Sexing  birds,  27. 
Sexual  organs,  28. 
Shag,  94. 
Shearwater,  Audubon's,  88. 

Cory's,  88. 

Greater,  88. 

Manx,  88. 

Sooty,  88. 
Shelldrake,  98,  99. 
Shore  Birds,  147. 
Shoveler,  105.' 
Shrike,  Loggerhead,  325. 

Northern,  325. 
Sialis  sialis,  402. 
Sickle-bill,  170. 
Siskin,  Pine,  287. 
Sitta  canadensis,  388. 

carolinensis,  387. 

carol  inensis  atkinsi,  388. 

pusilla,  388. 
Skimmer,  Black,  86. 
Skinning  birds,  24. 
Skua,  65. 
Skylark,  253. 
Snakebird,  93. 
Snipe,  English,  154. 

European,  155. 

Grass,  158. 

Gray,  157. 

Robin,  157. 

Rock,  158. 

Surf,  163. 

Wilson's,  154. 

Winter,  158. 
Snowllake,  288. 
Somateria  dresseri,  116. 

mollissima  borealis,  116. 

spectabilis,  116. 
Song  season,  14. 
Sora,  143. 

South  Southerly,  114. 
Sparrow,  Acadian  Sharp-tailed,  296. 

Bachman's,  305. 

Brewer's,  308. 

Chippinar,  302. 

Clay-coiored,  303. 

Dusky  Seaside,  298. 

English,  282. 

European  Tree,  283. 

Field,  803. 

Fox,  309. 

Grasshopper,  293. 

Henslow's,  294. 

House,  282. 

Ipswich,  291. 


INDEX. 


429 


Sparrow,  Lark,  299. 

Leconte's,  295. 

Lincoln's,  307. 

Nelson's  Sharp-tailed,  296. 

Pine-woods,  305. 

Savanna,  292. 

Scott's  Seaside,  298. 

Seaside,  297. 

Sharp-tailed,  295. 

Song,  306. 

Swamp,  308. 

Tree,  301. 

Vesper,  290. 

Western  Field,  304. 

White-crowned,  299. 

White-throated,  300. 

Yellow-winged,  293. 
Spatula  clypeata,  105. 
Speotyto  cunicularia  floridana,  221. 

cnnicularia  hypogsea,  221. 
Sphyrapicus  varms,  232. 
Spinus  notatus,  287. 

pinus,  287. 

tristis,  286. 
Spiza  americana,  315. 
Spizella  breweri,  303. 

monticola,  301. 

pallida,  303. 

pusilla,  303. 

pusilla  arenacea,  304. 

socialis,  302. 
Spoonbill,  Koseate,  126. 
Sprigtail,  106. 
Spring  migration,  15. 
Starling,  259. 

Starnoenas  cyanocephala,  191. 
Steganopodes,  91. 
Stelgidopteryx  serripennis,  322. 
Stercorariidse,  65. 
Stercorarius  longicaudus,  66. 

parasiticus,  66. 

pomarinus,  66. 
Sterna  anaethetus,  84. 

antillarum,  84. 

dougalli,  83. 

forsteri,  80. 

fuliginosa,  84. 

hirundo,  81. 

maxima,  79. 

paradissea,  82, 

sandvicensis  acuflavida,  80. 

trudeaui,  80. 

tschegrava,  79. 
Sterninae,  76. 
Stilt,  Black-necked,  150. 
Stone-chat,  402. 
Strigidse,  213. 
Strix  pratineola,  213. 
Sturnella  magna,  265. 

magna  neglecta,  266. 
Sturmdse,  259. 


Sturnus  vulgaris,  259. 
Sula  bassana,  92. 

cyanops,  92. 

sula,  92. 

piscator,  92. 
Sulidee,  92. 
Summer  residents  defined,  12. 

list  of,  18. 
Surnia  ulula  caparoch,  221. 
Swallow,  Bahama,  322. 

Bank,  322. 

Barn,  320. 

Chimnev,  239. 

Clitf,  320. 

Cuban  Cliff,  320. 

Eave,  320. 

Eough-winged,  322. 

Tree,  321. 

White-bellied,  321. 
Swan,  Trumpeter,  124. 

Whistling,  124. 

Whooping,  125. 
Swift,  Chimney,  239. 
Sylvania  canadensis,  374. 

mitrata,  372. 

pusilla,  373. 
Sylviidse,  391. 
Symphemia  semipalmata,  166. 

semipalmata  inornata,  167. 
Syrnium  nebulosum,  215. 

nebulosum  alleni,  216. 

Tachycineta  bicolor,  321. 
Tanager,  Louisiana,  318. 

Scarlet,  317. 

Summer,  317. 
Tanagridse,  316. 
Tantalus  loculator,  128. 
Taxidermy,  27. 
Teal,  Blue- winged,  105. 

Cinnamon,  105. 

European,  105. 

Green-winged,  104. 
Terms  used  in  description,  32. 
Tern,  Arctic,  82. 

Black,  84. 

Bridled,  84. 

Cabot's,  80. 

Caspian,  79. 

Conimon,  81. 

Forster's,  80. 

Gull-billed,  78. 

Least,  84. 

Marsh,  78. 

Koseate,  83. 

Koyal,  79. 

Sooty,  84. 

Trudeau's,  80. 

White-winged  Black,  85. 

Wilson's,  81. 
Tetraonidse,  178. 


430 


INDEX. 


Thalassoareron  culminatus,  86. 
Thistle-b1rd,  286. 

Thompson,   Ernest    E.,    biographical 
sketches   by,   181,   197,  253,   256, 
280,  285,  289,  300,  306,  325,  369, 
383. 
Thrasher,  Brown,  379. 
Thrush,  Alice's,  397. 

Bicknell's,  398. 

Brown,  379. 

Golden-crowned,  365. 

Gray-cheeked,  397. 

Grinnell's  Water,  368. 

Hermit,  400. 

Louisiana  Water,  368. 

Olive-backed,  398. 

Red- winged,  401. 

Varied,  402. 

Water,  367. 

Willow,  397. 

Wilson's,  396. 

Wood,  395. 
Thryothorus  bewickii,  381. 

ludovicianus,  380. 

ludovicianus  miamensis,  381. 
Tinker,  63. 
Titlark,  375. 
Titmouse,  Tufted,  389. 
Torrey, Bradford, biographical  sketch- 
es by,  129,  243,  331. 
Totanus  flavipes,  165. 

melanoleucus,  164. 

nebularius,  165. 

ochropus,  165. 

solitarius,  166. 
Totipalmate  Swimmers,  91. 
Towhee,  310. 

White-eyed,  310. 
Transient  visitants  deiined,  12. 
Triuga  alpina,  161. 

alpina  pacifica,  160. 

bairdii,  159. 

canutus,  157. 

ferruginea,  161. 

fuscicoUis,  158. 

maritima,  157. 

maculata,  158. 

minutilla,  160. 
Trochilidpe,  240. 
Trochilus  colubris,  241. 
Troglodytes  aedon,  381. 

aedon  aztecus,  382. 

hiemalis,  382. 
Troglodytid?e,  376. 
Tropic-bird,  Red-billed,  91. 

Yellow-billed,  91. 
Troupial,  266. 

Tryngites  subruficoUis,  168. 
Tube-nosed  Swimmers,  86. 
Tubinares,  86. 
Turdidse,  394. 


Turdus  alicise,  397. 

alicise  bicknelli,  398. 

aonalaschkae  pallasii,  400. 

fuscescens,  396. 

fuscescens  salicicolus,  397. 

iliacus,  401. 

mustelinus,  395. 

ustulatus  swainsonii,  398. 
Turkey,  Water,  93. 

Florida  Wild,  186. 

Wild,  186. 
Turnstone,  177. 
Tympanuchus  americanus,  184. 

cupido,  185. 
Tyrannidse,  242. 
Tyrannus  dominicensis,  244. 

tyrannus,  243. 

verticalis,  244. 

Uria  lomvia,  63. 

troile,  62. 
Urinator  arcticus,  59. 

imber,  58. 

lumme,  59. 
Urinatoridse,  58. 

Vanellus  vanellus,  172. 
Veery,  396. 
Vireo  belli,  332. 

calidris  barbatulus,  327. 

liavifrons,  330. 

flavoviridis,  329. 

gilvus,  329. 

noveboracensis,  332. 

noveboracensis  maynardi,  332. 

olivaceiis,  328. 

philadelphicus,  329. 

solitarius,  331. 

solitarius  alticola,  331. 

solitarius  plumbeus,  331. 
Vireo,  Bell's,  332. 

Black-whiskered,  327. 

Blue-headed,  331. 

Key  West,  332. 

Mountain  Solitary,  331. 

Philadelphia,  329. 

Plumbeous,  331. 

Red-eyed,  328. 

Warbiinff,  329. 

White-eyed,  332. 

Yellow-green,  329. 

Yellow-throated,  330. 
Vireonidae,  327. 
Vulture,  Black,  192. 

Turkey,  191. 

Wagtail,  White,  376. 
Warbler,  Audubon's,  356. 

Bachman's,  346. 

Bay-breasted,  358. 

Black  and  White,  343. 


INDEX. 


431 


Warbler,  Black  and  Yellow,  356. 

Blackburnian,  360. 

Blackpoll,  359. 

Black-throated  Blue,  354. 

Black-throated  Green,  361. 

Blue-winged,  347. 

Blue  Yellow-backed,  352. 

Brewster's,  347. 

Canadian,  374. 

Cape  May,  352. 

Cerulean,  357. 

Chestnut-sided,  357. 

Connecticut,  369. 

Golden-winged,  348. 

Hooded,  372. 

Kentucky,  368. 

Kirtland's,  362. 

Lawrence's,  348. 

Magnolia,  356. 

Mourning,  370. 

Myrtle,  355. 

Nashville,  349. 

Orange-crowned,  350. 

Palm,  363. 

Parula,  352. 

Pine,  363. 

Prairie,  364. 

Prothonotary,  344. 

Redpoll,  363. 

Summer  Yellow,  353. 

Swainson's,  345. 

Sycamore,  361. 

Tennessee,  350. 

Townsend's,  362. 

Wilson's,  373. 

Worm-eating,  345. 

Yellow,  353. 

Yellow-palm,  364. 

Yellow  Eedpoll,  364. 

Yellow-rumped,  355. 

Yellow-throated,  361. 
Water  Witch,  57. 
Waxwing,  Bohemian,  323. 

Cedar,  323. 
Wheatear,  402. 
Whimbrel,  171. 
Whip-poor-will,  237. 
Whisky  Jack,  256. 
Whistler,  113. 


Widgeon,  American,  103. 

European,  103. 
Willet,  166. 

Western,  167. 
Winter  visitants  defined,  12. 

list  of,  13. 
Woodcock,  American,  153. 

European,  154. 
Woodpecker,   American    Three-toed, 
232. 

Arctic  Three-toed,  231. 

Downy,  230. 

Golden-winged,  235. 

Hairy,  229. 

Ivory-billed,  229. 

Pileated,  233. 

Red-bellied,  234. 

Red-cockaded,  231. 

Red-headed,  233. 

Southern  Hairy,  230. 
Wren,  Bewick's,  381. 

Carolina,  380. 

Florida,  381. 

House,  381. 

Long-billed  Marsh,  384. 

Marian's  Marsh,  385. 

Mocking,  380. 

Short-billed  Marsh,  383. 

Western  House,  382. 

Winter,  382. 

Worthington's  Marsh,  385. 


Xanthocephalus 

263. 
Xema  sabinii,  76. 


Yellow-bird,  286. 
Yellow-hammer,  235. 
Yellow-legs,  165. 

Greater,  164. 

Lesser,  165. 

Summer,  165. 
Yellow-throat,  Florida,  371. 

Maryland,  371. 

Zenaida  zenaida,  189. 
Zenaidura  macroura,  188. 
Zonotrichia  albicollis,  300. 
leucophrys,  299. 


XANTHOCEPHALUS, 


(14) 


THE    END. 


DATP^  Oil 


DATE  DUE 

JU1_  -^ 

1993 

lAKI     1 

7    lonq 

\JI   tl  '.         j 

1         iOkJO 

UNIVERSITY  PRODUCTS,  INC.   #859-5503 

d' 


341058 


01681 
.046 


BOSTON  COLLEGE 


3  9031   01652200  5 


Chapman 5  Frank  M. 


Bapst  Library 

Boston  College 

Chestnut  Hill  67,  Mass. 


o 

^ 

^ 

CO 

G\I 

T~i 

